Companion planting Beans and Okra?

hqueen13

<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
381
Points
277
Location
Fallston, MD
I love the Kentucky Wonder green beans, they hold up so well for canning, but they are challenging to grow because of the vining issue. I also have Clemson Spineless Okra that I love. They grow easily to 6' or more, and have stalks that are several inches across at the bottom. Does anyone know how easy/challenging it would be to use the Okra as a framework for the beans? I don't want to ruin either crop. Really, the biggest risk is the japanese beetles which smother my beans every year. This would allow me to put 2 crops in 1 space, which would be very helpful in my tiny garden box.
 

frustratedearthmother

Sustainability Master
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
20,481
Reaction score
22,507
Points
453
Location
USDA 9a
It might be worth a try! Okra grows big and strong around here and should be able to support a green bean vine. Maybe check out some of the 'companion' planting guides...

If you try it - let us know how it goes. :)
 

hqueen13

<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
381
Points
277
Location
Fallston, MD
Certainly will. My okra grew like trees a few years before, so I think I should be ok. The real trick will be letting the okra get big enough that the beans can support it. I guess the other concern will be making sure that the beans don't constrict the growing okra pods. They get cut frequently, but if a vine ends up in the wrong place it would not allow the okra to grow correctly. I might end up with some funny looking okra!
 

Mini Horses

Sustainability Master
Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Messages
7,071
Reaction score
14,454
Points
352
Location
coastal VA
Marigolds will help with the beetles...don't eat okra but, should hold a bean vine. I've grown okra, for friends, pretty sturdy. I doubt you'd lose many pods due to the beans. But, didn't see okra on my companion planting list.
 

hqueen13

<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
381
Points
277
Location
Fallston, MD
Interesting, thanks for your thoughts Mini Horses
 

baymule

Sustainability Master
Joined
Nov 13, 2010
Messages
10,698
Reaction score
18,586
Points
413
Location
East Texas
Haha, I planted butterbeans on corn one year. Everything went ok until the corn stalks died. The butterbeans went wild until a hard killing frost. The corn gave up the ghost shortly after making corn. The stalks fell over, I had a wad of vines laying on the ground and had to drive T-posts and weave hay twine in and out the vines to tie them up. At least the okra will stand strong and produce as long as the beans do.
 

hqueen13

<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
381
Points
277
Location
Fallston, MD
Yeah, I'm thinking this could work pretty well and solve my struggle of figuring out how to string the beans up. I'm all for using less space to get more crops with less effort!!
 

ChickenMomma91

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Jun 20, 2014
Messages
173
Reaction score
113
Points
177
Location
northwestern Missouri
@hqueen13 you just gave me the most brilliant inspiration ever. I was totally resigned to just doing the outcrosses bush beans that I'm getting from the Little Easy Bean Network and now I can try to okra companion plantin to grow some pole beans. I could kiss you!
 

hqueen13

<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
3,664
Reaction score
381
Points
277
Location
Fallston, MD
LOL, So thrilled that you like the idea, @ChickenMomma91 I hope it works.... I need to get my stuff organized to give it a go very soon! I'm thinking I'll start my okra inside to give it a head start and then just direct seed the beans and see what happens. It won't be a terrible loss if neither of them produce.. I'm also thinking it will be smartest to mind them every day and make sure the beans aren't choking the okra... We'll see what happens. Let me know how yours do!
 
Top