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Okra PrOductiOn in

califOrnia


JOSÉ l. aGuiar, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Riverside

County; Milt McGiffEn, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences,

University of California, Riverside; Eric natWick, UC Cooperative


Extension Farm Advisor, Imperial County; EtafEraHu takElE, UC

Cooperative Extension Area Farm Advisor, Southern California Counties


PrOductiOn arEaS

California has relatively little acreage in okra

(Abelmoschus esculentus L.), but it is an important cash

crop for small-scale farmers. Imperial County has

the most okra production with 184 acres (74 ha), and

other counties produce small amounts.


land PrEParatiOn

Preliminary tillage and planting groundwork opera-

tions include chopping prior crop residues, disk-

ing, subsoiling, floating, and listing beds. Chopped

residues should be disked while there is still some

soil moisture to avoid forming large, hard clods on

heavier soils. The breakdown rate of crop residues

depends on temperature, moisture, soil aeration,

ample nitrogen, and the particle size of crop residues.

Stubble is disked across the previous crop rows to

ensure good aeration of the soil, adequate burial of

organic matter, and to aid in the control of pests and

diseases.


VariEtiES and PlantinG

Most California commercial okra cultivars are green,

ribbed, spineless types. Clemson Spineless, the stan-

dard open-pollinated variety, has been grown for

over 40 years. It is still used because of low seed

cost and wide adaptation. Its dark green pods are

slightly grooved, and the plants are about 4 feet (1.2

m) tall. Clemson Spineless 80 is an open-pollinated

selection from Clemson Spineless with shorter plants

and greater uniformity. Annie Oakley F1 is a very


prolific hybrid that produces bright green pods and

nearly double the yield of standard varieties. Growers

are reluctant to plant it because seed is much more

expensive than open-pollinated varieties. Other vari-

eties that have been grown or are under trial include

Green Best F1, Penta-Green OP, Annie Oakley II,

Emerald, Picacho, Velvet, and Lee.


Planting should begin after the last killing frost.

The best time to plant the spring crop in the southern

desert valleys is from the first of February to the end

of March. The fall crop is planted from mid-June to

mid-July. The soil temperature should be at least 60ºF

(16ºC) for adequate germination. Studies show that it

takes 17 days for plants to emerge at 68ºF (20ºC), 13

days at 77ºF (25ºC), and 7 days at 86ºF (30ºC).


Rows should be spaced from 26 to 40 inches (0.65 to

1 m) apart, depending on the equipment. Seed should

be planted about 1.5 inches (3.7 cm) deep. Most grow-

ers plant about 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of seed per acre, but

the amount of seed used can be substantially reduced

by precision planting. This amount gives an approxi-

mate spacing of 5 to 7 seed per foot of row. When the

plants reach a height of 3 inches (7.5 cm), they should

be thinned to 6 to 9 inches (15 to 22.5 cm) apart. In

some states, 4- to 6-week-old okra transplants are used

to establish a stand. These plants have 3 to 4 true leaves

at transplanting time and are spaced 9 inches apart.


SOilS

Okra will grow on many soil types, and management

should adjust to the soil type. In sandy soils (e.g., the

Coachella Valley), fertilize frequently as soluble nutri-

ents leach readily from the crop root zone.


irriGatiOn

The crop may be planted in moist soil (mulch plant-

ing) or furrow-irrigated for the initial irrigation. If

the soil has adequate moisture at planting, the young

seedlings will grow to 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm)

before another irrigation is needed. Excessive irriga-

tion in chilly weather tends to cool the soil and retard

plant growth. As the plants mature, the crop should


Vegetable

Production Series


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UC Vegetable Research

& Information Center


University of California

Agriculture and Natural Resources


http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu • Publication 7210


Okra acrEaGE and ValuE


Year Acres

average yield

(tons/acre)


Gross

value/acre


2007 223 3.4 $3,348


2006 417 4.0 $3,760


2005 504 5.0 $4,904


Source: uSDA/National Agricultural Statistics Services;

california county Agricultural commissioners’ Data, 2005–2007.


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http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu


not be stressed for moisture if maximum yields are

to be obtained. At harvest, irrigate alternate furrows

(depressions between rows) to provide a dry place to

walk during harvest. Subsequent irrigation should be

applied to the dry furrow.


fErtiliZatiOn

Growers typically apply 100 pounds per acre (112 kg/

ha) of 11-52-0 or other ammoniated phosphate fertil-

izers that contain both phosphorous (P) and nitrogen

(N). Dry fertilizer is broadcast flat and listed into the

beds. Some growers inject ammoniated phosphate

(5-35-0) at 15 gallons per acre (168 l/ha) 4 inches (10

cm) below and 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the side of the seed

rows. A preplant application of chicken manure may

be substituted for chemical fertilizers. The manure

should be broadcast applied 1 week or more prior to

listing, then disked into the soil.


Growers sidedress an additional application of 40 to

60 pounds of nitrogen per acre (45 to 67 kg/ha) about

6 weeks after planting. Sources of nitrogen such as dry

ammonium nitrate (34-0-0), AN-20 (liquid ammonium

nitrate, 20-0-0), dry urea (46-0-0), UAN-32 (liquid urea–

ammonium nitrate, 32-0-0), or aqua ammonia (21-0-0)

may be used. However, when plants are small direct

placement of fertilizer with a tractor-mounted applica-

tor is more efficient than sidedress applications as the

fertilizer can be precisely placed in the crop root zone

when the plants are small.


intEGratEd PESt ManaGEMEnt

Weed management. Early-season cultivation for weed

control should be shallow so as not to injure young

okra roots. A preplant herbicide should be worked

into the soil. Which herbicide to use depends on

which weeds predominate. Consult your UCCE Farm

Advisor or licensed pest control adviser for advice as

registered herbicides change often. Select fields free of

nutsedge for optimal yields.


insect identification and control. Cutworms (Agrotis

subterranean (Fabricius) and Perodroma saucia (Hübner)),

crickets (Gryllus spp.), and earwigs (Forficula auricularia

Linnaeus) attack okra during stand establishment and

may clip-off seedlings. During the growing season,

silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype

B) and cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) can be

present in damaging numbers, causing direct injury

from feeding, and honeydew may support the growth

of sooty molds, reducing photosynthesis. Honeydew

from aphids and whiteflies can also contaminate fruit,

rendering it unmarketable. Near harvest, tobacco bud-

worm (Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)), corn earworms

(Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)), silverleaf whitefly, beet army-

worm (Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)), cabbage looper

(Trichoplusia ni (Hübner)), lygus bugs (Lygus hespe-

rus), and stinkbugs, including Consperse stink bug


(Euschistus conspersus); Say stink bug (Chlorochroa sayi);

and western brown stink bug (Euschistus impictiventris)

can attack the crop. Consult your local UCCE Farm

Advisor or a licensed pest control adviser for informa-

tion on specific pest problems. Chemicals that may be

legally used to control these pests change frequently.

Check the label of the material for current registration

information before treating a field.


disease identification and management. Damping

off, caused by soilborne fungi (Pythium and Rhizoctonia

spp.), may be controlled by a fungicidal seed treat-

ment. Make sure all plant residue from previous crops

is decomposed as residues increase the incidence of

damping off. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.

vasinfectum) is a fungal disease that destroys okra. The

water-transporting cells in the plant become clogged

with fungi, and the plants droop and wilt. Crop rota-

tion is the best control. To avoid this disease, do not

plant okra, eggplant, or tomatoes in the same field

more than once every 4 years.


Other pests. Okra is very susceptible to root knot

nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), which reduce crop yields

and cause secondary infection by fungi in the roots.

Avoid soils continually cropped with okra because they

may be infested with root knot nematodes.


HarVESt and HandlinG

The immature pod (the edible part of the okra plant)

is harvested when still tender. Harvesting is normally

done by hand every 2 to 3 days, or more often under

very warm conditions. The crop is ready for harvest

about 4 to 6 days after flowering, when the pods

reach 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm) long. The first pods

may be ready to harvest 2 months after planting. The

crop will continue to bear for several months under

ideal conditions, especially when overmature pods

are removed on a regular basis. Overmature pods are

more fibrous and lower in quality and value.


Okra that is 3 inches (7.5 cm) long or smaller is

marketed as Extra Fancy; okra that is longer than 3

inches is sold as Fancy. Harvested okra is packed in

20-pound (9- kg) waxed cartons or wooden flats. The

pods must be handled with care as they are subject to

bruising. The bruises will turn black a few hours after

rough handling. Harvesters should wear soft cotton

gloves to help prevent pod damage. Okra should

never be stored in large bins or hampers for any

length of time. Because okra has a high respiration

rate, the pods will bleach due to lack of proper venti-

lation and excess heating.


POStHarVESt HandlinG

Okra, a very delicate vegetable, should be marketed

immediately after harvesting. It should be stored at

45ºF (7ºC) and a relative humidity of 90 to 95 percent.

At this temperature and humidity, shelf life is 7 to 10


2 • Okra Production in California


days. At higher temperatures, the pods yellow, tough-

en, and start to decay. As little as 3 percent moisture

loss causes okra to wilt.


Okra may be spray washed or placed in a large

water tank for cleaning. Wash water may be chlori-

nated to 75 to 100 ppm of free chlorine. Excess water

should be removed after packing. Never use top ice on

okra cartons or baskets: the ice will cause water spots

on the pods after 2 to 3 days. Okra is subject to chilling

injury below 45ºF (7ºC). Damage will consist of surface

pitting, pod discoloration, and excessive decay.


In general, okra has the same storage requirements

as green beans, cucumber, eggplant, peppers, and

squash. These products may be stored together with-

out deleterious effect. Okra should not be stored with

melons, bananas, apples, or other produce that give

off ethylene gas.


MarkEtinG

Leading okra-producing states are Texas, Georgia,

California, and Florida. Supplies peak in June,

July, and August. California ships okra from June

through October. Mexico exports okra year-round,


but exports to the United States are highest from June

to September.


cOStS Of PrOductiOn

The costs of okra production vary with location.

Costs for water, land lease, and production inputs

(fertilizer, pesticide, etc.) depend on weather, soil, and

other factors. Generally, Okra production is particu-

larly labor intensive in harvest and requires certain

skills for harvesting. Costs include about 8 percent

in cultural operating costs, 88 percent in harvest, and

about 3% in fixed overhead costs. For more informa-

tion on sample costs for okra production in Riverside

County, see the publication Production Practices

and Sample Costs to Produce Okra: Furrow Irrigated,

Coachella Valley, Riverside County (1995–96), at the UC

Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Web

site, http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu/files/okra96.pdf.

Though the sample cost is old, it provides a general

perspective of the breakdown of costs and the typical

production practices for Riverside County. Current

costs can be approximated by multiplying the costs

given in the publication by about 2 percent per year.


3 • Okra Production in California


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OKRA PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA

Production Areas

Land Preparation

Varieties and Planting

Okra Acreage and Value

Soils

Irrigation

Fertilization

Integrated Pest Management

Harvest and Handling

Postharvest Handling

Marketing

Costs of Production

For Further Information

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