I have half a dozen okra plants which are growing well but not producing much. Any suggestions? Lots of flower buds but not many flowers or fruits. I'm in a sub-tropical climate.

bummer.
Something getting to the buds before they open?

I saw a lot of ants about a week ago but they are gone (or invisible) now. A couple of the roots wer showing so I added some soil.

katiebear said: I saw a lot of ants about a week ago but they are gone (or invisible) now. A couple of the roots wer showing so I added some soil.

Ants are bad on okra, that happened to mine. They gnawed on the new okra growing and it turned brown and terrible as it grew.
The instant you see ants crawling on your okra, blast them with the hose and put Sevin around the base of the plant to keep them crawling back up. Or spritz stalk, blooms/blossoms or newborn fruit with insecticidal soap.

I haven't seen more ants. I asked a friend to bring Sevrin when she comes down next week. I also sprayed with peppermint tea as I read ants don't like it. I have gotten a few more fruits and mmore are coming. (No brown blossoms, for what it's worth.) Thanks for the help.

Update - I used apeppermint spray my neighbor brought me. No more signs of ants or other pests. I've been getting small pickings or the okra every day or two. I love it raw so I mostly eat it in the garden. I've not had a lot of successes with my gardening here so I am pleased.

The plants are getting very tall. Is it OK to prune the tips to encourage more branching? I will also probably trim the weaker plants as they have come up in groups which are quite crowded.

Okra is like hollyhocks - I've never seen one branch. They do get 6 ft tall.

Raw okra. I'll have to try that. I love it fried or in soup. A friend makes okra salad but I think she steams it or something. Now I have to ask her.

Don't prune the okra (until someone who knows more comes along).

Okra does branch, in my garden. Or, it can. I think I've grown 'Evergreen'?
Def remove the crowded small ones.

I also like it young and raw.

Depends on the variety and weather as to branches, I think. You can trim off lower leaves as the fruits keep forming up the column. It can get 10'/12' tall, but that is also the variety. Some of them quit growing taller around 6'.