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Post by glen on Aug 26, 2020 1:15:21 GMT -6
Thats good Rick. What I have been doing is saving seed from one plant every year. I select the biggest and branchiest plant. It doesn't hurt okra's genetics at all to do this. Your particular seed came from one pod on one plant. The best plant in my garden that year. I chose the pod that had the best colored seed also. The seed is dark when it looks its best. If you leave the pod outside too long the pod will slightly open, allowing moisture to enter the pod also. Thats why you want to get the pod indoors as soon as you can hear the pod rattle when you flick it. The pods mature slow. I think if we keep growing this variety out we will someday find a plant that has many branches that also branch and produce okra. Its a game of luck really to find this exceptional plant. This is because most okra does not branch naturally. It wants to be a single stalk plant. AfricanX does branch though. Just not enough.
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Post by glen on Aug 30, 2020 14:57:50 GMT -6
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Aug 30, 2020 16:04:46 GMT -6
Looks like a breakthrough to me! Freak accidents are a gardener's best friend.
I especially like that secondary branching. That's what it's all about! Things like that increase production several fold.
Keep it up, Glen!
Thanks, for sharing your photos.
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Post by rdback on Sept 7, 2020 11:39:44 GMT -6
...There are a few branches that are especially thick. Notice the branches forming on branches. This is the first time I have ever seen this as this time it appears that these little new branches appear to be following thru and forming little pod heads on them. This is what I have been waiting for. I will save seed from this plant and use them next season. Now, if any of you that are growing AfricanX okra see this trait please save seed from these plants and use them next year. I don't know if this is a break thru or just a freak accident. We will see. 8/25 - Your plant looks great Glen, but it's not the only one with branches forming on branches! I've got two plants with complex branching, and one of them has two! Said another way, I have a plant with the main stem, six branches, and two of those branches have branches. AND, it was the FIRST plant to set a pod. I know this because I didn't see that pod until it was too big, so I had already let that pod go to seed! The sub-branches have formed flower clusters, but no flowers or pods yet.
I tried to edit the photo and use arrows to identify one of the sub-branches. I'm not a fan of the result, but thought I'd share anyway.
This is just a photo for scale, to show the size of the plants compared to the chair.
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Post by rdback on Sept 7, 2020 11:51:31 GMT -6
9/05 - Plants continue to grow nicely and have increased production significantly. Plants are probably approaching five feet tall, and we're probably picking a dozen pods every couple of days. I haven't thought to weigh them, but we have been enjoying eating them, lol.
Here's another "scale" picture, 10 days later.
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Post by glen on Sept 7, 2020 16:20:29 GMT -6
Absolutely beautiful and a great report. It is amazing to me to see the progress you are making with this new okra variety!! Please save seed from that plant!! It has taken a long time to get to this point. Like I said, I have only one volunteer plant growing on the side yard and it is forming a complex branching pattern as well. Some of the secondary branches are forming pods also. The plant is wider than it is tall. This isn't some kind of freak accident I don't think. Its happening with multiple plants in different environments and climates. I think George is seeing this as well. I don't fully understand it but I will take it. Your plants are getting huge by the way. How much longer until a freeze comes?
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Post by rdback on Sept 7, 2020 17:45:34 GMT -6
...How much longer until a freeze comes? Hopefully we have to the middle of October, early November some years. BUT, there's a cold front moving across the U.S. as we speak. Denver was a 101F yesterday - expecting snow tonight. Forecast here is a low in the upper 50's, so I think we'll be ok...with this one, lol.
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Post by rdback on Sept 24, 2020 18:33:53 GMT -6
9/24 - AfricanX continues to steadily plod along, reliably producing pods.
So, to ensure we'll enjoy AX later this winter, we fired up ol' reliable.
...and ended up with these. Yum!
Now I do know all good things must come to an end, but hopefully not too soon. We had three nights with lows in the 30's, and I don't think AX appreciated it. Some plants are starting to show some signs. Sigh.
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Post by glen on Sept 26, 2020 19:17:48 GMT -6
Rick, how many plants do you have in your row?
What do you think about the production?
How long did your plants produce okra?
In my opinion, for you and your wife, you probably needed a few more plants. I would say, maybe 15 plants for 2 people. That would ensure you had plenty of okra coming in all the way to the first hard frost. Your plants look like hell after those cold nights.
Great job!!!
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Post by rdback on Sept 27, 2020 17:19:35 GMT -6
Rick, how many plants do you have in your row? There's eight plants in this rowWhat do you think about the production? I think production is probably in the good rangeHow long did your plants produce okra? I think I picked first pods 8/09, so 7-8 weeks maybe?In my opinion, for you and your wife, you probably needed a few more plants. I would say, maybe 15 plants for 2 people. That would ensure you had plenty of okra coming in all the way to the first hard frost. Your plants look like hell after those cold nights. Hahaha. We're happy with what we've picked so far.Great job!!! Thanks! We plan on picking some more before first frost!
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Post by rdback on Sept 27, 2020 17:26:21 GMT -6
9/26 - Pods and flowers seem to be developing a red "blush". Anybody else seen this in AfricanX?
Another nice picking - notice the color
...and here's the flower buds exhibiting a redish color. The flowers hadn't opened yet, so I'm not sure if the whole flower was this color.
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Post by glen on Sept 27, 2020 17:58:14 GMT -6
Yes, the plants get varying shades of purple and also in the blooms. We don't know why this happens. I sent seed to Ghana Africa a couple of years ago and the man had plants that were super purple, leaf, stalks, blooms, pods. I hypothesized that it was a function of how acid the soil was. But, that isn't necessarily correct. By the way, those pods and blooms are very attractive to look at. Gorgeous color on the branches too. I love purple I guess. I am into the purple shaded Superhot chili's as well. All okra has at least some purple in the foliage and branches although its usually very little.
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Post by rdback on Sept 28, 2020 18:59:32 GMT -6
9/28 Plants continue to produce, although they're showing signs of age. Picked about 18 pods today, which is pretty high. Plants have probably maxed out at about six feet. Lots of young pods developing.
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Post by macmex on Sept 28, 2020 19:01:40 GMT -6
Gorgeous, Rick! My okra hasn't done as well as usual, this year. Still AfricanX has been a champ. I got a photo this afternoon. Will try to post it tomorrow.
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Post by rdback on Oct 7, 2020 16:58:02 GMT -6
10/07 - Temps have dropped quite a bit - 40's at night, 60's during the day. AfricanX is NOT a fan. Wilting and significant leaf drop. Pod production down 40-50%. Next 10 days are forecast to be slightly warmer, so time will tell I guess. But clearly, AX's days are numbered.
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