What could have caused my Okra to wilt and die?

[happyhill]

Most of the plants were looking good and doing ok and then most all of then started to wilt and look like they are dying. I bought the plants and most are red and a couple make big fat okras. We've had plenty of water. They are growing on a raised bed with weed blocker. Small melons are growing under them. I don't know anything about okra diseases.

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

I don't know! I grow a lot of Okra and I've never had a problem with heat or lack of rain. In fact, I think it would go on cement if it could take root

[TXDirtDog]

Just a thought Happyhill, do you have gophers in your area? Or something similar? I've never seen an okra plant wilt either. I know I haven't grown anywhere near as many as HMK, but I've never heard of one wilting either. When I think of an okra plant I pretty much think "impervious".

[grapenut]

Well happyhill, that makes two of us, I had the exact thing happen to mine and just figured it was due to my cool weather, but who knows, this was my first time growing it.

[tracydr]

Pull them up and take a look at the roots. Something under the soil is going on.

[Texas Kenny]

Okra is very sensative to root knot nematode damage.

[Denninmi]

Okra is also very prone to verticilium wilt, Southern wilt, and fusarium. Unfortunately, the symptoms of all of them are pretty similar, but with keen observation you may be able to narrow it down.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pg049

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0861/ANR-0861.pdf

[happyhill]

Thanks for all the advice but the good news is--they recovered! Some of the wilted leaves did die but they recovered and are producing again. I can't imagine what happened because the soil wasn't dry. It has been unusually hot but okra likes heat. Beats me!
Grapenut what has been the outcome with your wilted plants?

[grapenut]

Originally Posted by happyhill

Thanks for all the advice but the good news is--they recovered! Some of the wilted leaves did die but they recovered and are producing again. I can't imagine what happened because the soil wasn't dry. It has been unusually hot but okra likes heat. Beats me!
Grapenut what has been the outcome with your wilted plants?

Funny you should ask! I had just a stick standing in the garden, thought about pulling it, but left it there. now it's growing new leaves, still think it was due to the cold weather we had.