Okra, believe it or not, is an excellent summer cover crop. It is drought tolerant, thrives in hot weather and can grow in a range of soil types. Okra makes a large sized plant and has an impressive taproot that will break up compacted soil.
When is the right time to plant? Compare the germination temperature listed below to your soil temperature. Read this article for more info: When Can I Start Planting?
| Basic Info | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maturity (Days) | Seeds/lb | C/N at Maturity | Growth Habit | Root Type/Depth | Cold Kill (F) | Dry Matter Potential(Tons/acre) |
| 50 - 65 | 7300 | High | Upright | Deep Taproot | 32 | 2 - 3 |
| Use and Characteristics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N Fix Potential | Lasting Residue | Palatability | Hay Harvest | Regrowth | Deep Compaction | Surface Compaction | Weed Suppression | Crimp Kill |
| Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Excellent | Very Good | Fair | Easy | |
| Planting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Depth | Min Germ Temp(F) | Drilled Seed Rate (lbs/acre) | Broadcast Seed Rate (lb/acre) |
| 1/2 - 1 1/2" | 60 | 7 - 10 | 10 - 15 |
| Tolerance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | Drought | Shade | Wet Soil | Low Fertility | Low pH Soil | High pH Salinity | High pH Calcareous |
| Very Good | Excellent | Poor | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |