Glad I didn't get far enough with my gardening Memorial day weekend
to get the okra sown because it's turned cool and wet again. So I
need to wait for the soil to warm back up.

I've grown okra up here once before (Minnesota, zone 4); I don't
remember if it was Emerald or Clemson Spineless but it grew over 7
feet tall by the end of the season but didn't bear very much. This
time I bought a hybrid variety "North & South" that's supposed to be
cool weather tolerant. But I doubt it will *sprout* in cold wet
soil. I may germinate them in the house on some wet paper towels
then plant them when they have little 1/8" long roots sticking out.

If I pinch the tops back, will they branch out from the base and
yield heavier? Or will that just set them back a couple of weeks
that I don't have? My mom sows her okra in the ground but then
transplants it (I know okra doesn't like to be transplanted) and she
says it makes the plants branch. Her okra plants always look like
upside-down candelabras. But that's in S.E. Texas where the growing
season is about 300 days, whereas up here it's closer to 100.

Bob