
Other Vegetables That Love the Heat
From Beyond the Garden Basics by Farmer Fred
June 5, 2026 · 11 min
About this episode
Gail Pothour discusses the benefits and cultivation of okra and other heat-loving vegetables.
Today’s podcast features Sacramento County Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour, extolling the virtues of growing okra in the summer. Gail’s encyclopedic knowledge of this warm weather crop will amaze you. Perhaps it’s her South Carolina heritage that adds to her love of okra. Sometimes disdained for its mucilanginous flavor (aka “slimy”), okra is a plant of many uses, including its leaves and flowers. What? Plant in June or early July? Yes, indeed. Many popular home garden crops - melons, squash, sweet corn, popcorn, and okra - get off to a stronger start when the soil is very warm (70’s-80’s), and the same is true for June-purchased transplants of these vegetables. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gardenbasics.substack.com/subscribe
People in this episode
Host: Farmer Fred
Guest: Gail Pothour
Topics covered
- vegetable gardening
- okra cultivation
- warm weather crops
- gardening tips
- summer gardening
Keywords
- okra
- vegetable gardening
- summer crops
- gardening tips
- warm weather
Mentioned in this episode
Products: okra, melons, squash, sweet corn, popcorn
Places: Sacramento County, South Carolina
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