Abelmoschus esculentus 'Clemson Spineless'

RHS Plant Profile

okra 'Clemson Spineless'

Annual Biennial

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A nearly thorn-free annual which grows to around 1.5m in a summer. It has palmate green leaves and cream flowers with a dark red eye. These are produced in small clusters daily, which then develop into elongated green fruits, best harvested at 4-5cm long.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Genus: Abelmoschus are hairy annuals or perennials with large, usually palmately-lobed leaves and 5-petalled, hibiscus-like, flowers borne in the leaf axils or in terminal racemes
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil under glass

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse
Edible fruit

Pruning

No pruning required. Keep harvesting young seed pods to prolong flowering. Wear gloves to protect against irritating hairs on stems

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds