8 Herbs And Veggies You'll Want To Grow Alongside Okra In The Garden

Among the plants beloved in the south of the United States, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a crowd favorite. Because okra loves hot and sunny summers, it's most commonly grown in the deep south, but you can actually have it thrive in zones 4 to 11 as long as it's well cared for.  To have a successful okra crop, there are some things to consider, one of them being which plants to grow alongside it.

Not all plants get along. In fact, there is an actual practice called companion planting. The idea is to create a community in your garden, where plants help rather than harm each other. For your garden to benefit from companion planting, learn which plants to pair together and which to keep apart. For example, some plants thrive in the same conditions as okra — high heat, lots of sun, and tons of water. Some of them can even repel bugs that like to snack on okra leaves. Meanwhile, others, like squash, can do the opposite and expose the okra to pest infestations. Here are eight herbs and vegetables that you should grow alongside okra in your garden.

Basil has a strong and specific smell, which is great for keeping pests away from your okra plant. It works wonders against bugs like spider mites, whiteflies, and even aphids, all of which love to feast on okra. In addition, the two plants make great neighbors because they share a love for heat and moist soil. Tall okra plants can even help basil thrive by creating some shade and preventing their leaves from getting too sunburnt. 

Another plant that can accompany okra in its quest for sunshine and moisture is the melon. Not only do both plants share the same preferences for hot climates, but okra can also help melons thrive by shielding them from harsh mid-day sun. Just take care in how you arrange the plants so that the melons are not shaded all the time, since they do need a few hours of sun every day. In turn, melon leaves and vines can prevent weeds from crowding up the base of the okra. It's a win-win situation. 

Much like basil, oregano has a strong and unique scent that's fantastic at keeping bad bugs away. For example, aphids tend to steer clear of gardens that smell like oregano. While it keeps harmful insects away, the smell of oregano also attracts some beneficial insects, whose presence is helpful in the garden. Much like melons, oregano plants stay close to the ground and prevent weeds from spreading around the okra plants. Another match made in garden heaven. 

Much like the plants we've already mentioned, cucumbers love moist soils, hot temperatures, and bright, direct sun. This makes them a great companion pairing for okras! For a successful cucumber-okra combo, you'll want to space out the plants a little bit more than you would with other companions. This is because cucumbers need a lot of sun and therefore won't love living in okras' shadow.

Peppers make great okra companion plants. We're not only talking about bell peppers, either, since the same is true for hot peppers like jalapeños. Hot peppers are the kryptonite of some pests, including cabbage worms and cabbage moths, because they cause an irritating, burning feeling that these little animals dislike. In fact, you can even use ground cayenne pepper in your garden to get the same effect and keep these bugs out of your crops. 

Okra loves a nitrogen-rich growing medium. To satisfy this preference, you can buy some nitrogen-rich fertilizer, like The Grow Co High Nitrogen Fertilizer. Or you can opt for natural ways to add nitrogen to your soil. An easy natural solution is to grow okra next to plants that fix nitrogen in the soil. Suitable plants include legumes that grow in spring and summer like okra, such as cowpeas, soybeans, tepary beans, or snap peas.

Radishes are great little sidekicks for okra plants. They do two things. First, radishes can act as a "trap crop" to distract annoying bugs that love to snack on okra, like the flea beetle. The idea of planting less valuable crops, like radishes, to divert pests away from the main crop is also a form of companion planting. In addition, radishes also loosen the soil, giving okra roots more room to grow. 

Other, less commonly known okra companion plants are chives, onions, and leeks. These crops from the Amaryllidaceae family are a good choice to keep Japanese beetles out of your garden and away from the okra. In addition, they are useful plants for cooking and are extremely easy to maintain. Just plant them in the ground near your okra and watch them sprout.