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where should I put okra & other garden layout & planning questions

 
Posts: 47
Location: Cary, NC
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So I want to plant okra (no longer having 'allergic' reactions to it - so happy {'histamine intolerance' / MCAS} ) but since I had not planned on it earlier I don't know where to put it.
I'm having lots of problems planning things out in general & could use some input.

My backyard space is 850 sq ft, almost rectangular (slightly trapezoidal). It faces north and is enclosed by solid vinyl fencing, 6' high. There is a slight upward slope towards the fence.
I'm in central North Carolina, zone 7b.

I have a 4' x 8' ft raised bed. I have dig up a bed for sweet potatoes, not fully planted ~ 4.5' x 6'. I have planted some cowpeas and scarlet runner beans along the back fence.
I've attached some pictures and drawing of the layout.

Another question I have is about what to do with the dug up sod. Some sites suggest solarizing with plastic before composting. I have heavy duty black plastic construction site waste bags in my hurricane prep kit and could use one for this purpose but I hate the idea of it - of chemicals leaching from the plastic and all that.

Another possibility is getting one of those fancy galvanized steel raised beds and using the sod to fill the bottom & then putting in several layers of cardboard before filling with compost and coir mix. These planters are expensive but on sale now. Not sure where I would put it, though. Also have wondered how hot they get - there are some popular YouTube gardeners that have them in hot climates and they say they don't heat up too much - but they also are affiliated with the company that makes them.

I have to try to keep things looking relatively neat and tidy.

~
Another okra related question - high N or low N? I get a lot of my gardening education - for better or worse - from watching YouTube since I can do that while washing dishes & cooking. 3 YT channels say okra likes lots of N, but one says no. I guess I should go with the majority opinion?
https://youtu.be/aLsV4JtwcD0
garden-20220529-1.jpg
garden photo
garden photo
raised-bed-20220529.jpg
garden photo 2
garden photo 2
kabocha-20220529.jpg
need to get cattle panel for kabocha squash
need to get cattle panel for kabocha squash
backyard-layout-2.png
backyard layout drawing
backyard layout drawing
 
Lh Forsythe
Posts: 47
Location: Cary, NC
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For solarizing things before composting I have thought about getting a 15.5 quart black enamel stock pot. It would take more time since the batches would be smaller, but maybe it would work?
 
gardener
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Location: Just northwest of Austin, TX
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A lot of plants that produce fruit will actually produce less in a high nitrogen environment and instead devote their energy to growing more leaves.  I don't have any actual data to back this up, but okra has a reputation of doing well in the tough conditions. I wouldn't be inclined to add extra nitrogen.

 
Casie Becker
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Location: Just northwest of Austin, TX
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Oh, if you are trying for green beans, scarlett runners won't produce them when the temperature is over 80 degrees.  Keep the plant alive till fall and they'll start up again.  Huge and delicious beans so I keep replacing mine even though they are very short season here.  If you want green beans through the summer you'll need a different species.

I am found of purple pole varieties because it is easy to find at harvest and they produce all season unlike bush varieties that need replacing regularly. They also turn completely green when they are cooked and I always like plants that message me when they're ready.
 
Lh Forsythe
Posts: 47
Location: Cary, NC
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I was mostly growing the scarlett runners for the hummingbirds. I have grown them in the past and not gotten any beans. I guess I know why now, although I start them really early so I would have thought maybe a pod or two would have developed before it got hot. Maybe next to the fence they get hot quicker.

Another reason why I want to cover the fence (not just to make full use of the space) is that I find the fence kind of acts like a parabolic mirror plus reduces air flow so the whole backyard becomes a solar oven. Might actually be helpful to extend the season, but covering the fence in vines might help reduce heat in summer by reducing the reflectivity.

The color indicator thing is great! I love purple foods since they usually contain anthocyanins - wondering what causes the purple color and if whatever it is gets broken down completely when cooked or just changes color. I will have to try to find some purple pole beans.

I'm thinking I should move the compost bin (4' x 4') from the northwest corner and plant the okra there ... and move the compost bin ... where? ... I need to add another bay. I think I will get the 3' x 3' extension kit  to make 2 rectangular bays. And I will go ahead and buy the stockpot so I can experiment since I did not get a B-day present yet (was a couple weeks ago). If it doesn't  work I can try something else.

~
Is it possible to grow bamboo safely in a container on top of concrete? I find I'm always wanting stakes & poles. But I guess it would have to be a really enormous container & weighted down if I wanted to get decent sized poles.
 
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