As a matchmaker for my human loved ones, I’ll admit I don’t do so well. But when it’s time to pair okra plants with beneficial companions in my home garden, I have an enviable success rate.
Part of the reason is that okra, unlike some of the folks I’ve tried to fix up over the years, is easy to get along with.
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Known by the botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus, okra grows quickly and produces mightily in warm weather.
But even with its easy-going nature, okra can benefit when you take extra time to plan where it grows – right down to selecting the most helpful companion plants to grow nearby.
If you’re not familiar with companion planting, it’s the practice of pairing certain types of plants in the garden, landscape, or even in containers in a way that benefits one or both.
Certain companion pairings help gardeners grow vegetables or flowers with less effort or resources, while others promote higher yields or deter pests.
Other plants make a good match just because they look good together, grow at the same time of year, or have complementary sunlight or water needs.
We have an insightful guide on the scientific findings that guide companion planting, and that’s a good place to get the background on this helpful concept.
I’m also the first to admit that some oft-repeated companion planting ideas are merely wit and wisdom or even folklore. The best way to handle this practice is with your own careful trial and error.
Okra is not nearly as fussy about its companions as many high-producing vegetable crops (I’m looking at you, beans and garlic).
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The topic of fruiting quince came up the other day when a friend shared just how productive his tree was shaping up to be this year. Everyone present enthusiastically chimed in with our own quince experiences, memories, and recipes. We all appeared to have had a grandmother with a quince growing in her garden, who would use the fall-gathered fruit for cooking, jellies, jams, to add oomph to apple pies and ciders, and for medicinal—sometimes even alcoholic—purposes! Though most varieties of quince need to be cooked to be enjoyed in our particular climate zone and are firm and astringent at harvest time, this fruit has an avid fan club and is adored for many reasons.
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