![]() As with many vegetables, simply sautéing okra in olive oil or butter and adding seasoning is enough to make a delicious dish. Once the harvest has ensued, the okra preparation and eating can begin. If transplants were used, the fruit will be ready in about 2 months. If planting from seeds, the okra fruit will ready to pick within approximately 3 months. If you find the stem difficult to cut, then pods are too old and will not be good for eating. Pruning shears are best to remove seedpods. ![]() Picking them at this size, and picking every 1-3 days, helps ensure they will be tender. Green okra or lady finger in plantĪfter that point, the okra plant will begin to grow small seedpods that will be ready for the picking when they are 2-3 inches long. Growing:Īs your plants mature they will bloom with beautiful little whitish-yellow flowers that resemble their relative the hibiscus. If your plants do become victims of fungi, trim the affected parts and get rid of them. Also implementing crop rotation within your garden is extremely helpful in reducing disease and pests. To help prevent this make sure your plants are receiving plenty of sunshine. Okra can also become a victim to certain fungi. If moth larvae are the problem, cover your plants at night with a light bedsheet to keep the adults from laying eggs on your plants. Inviting ladybugs and other predatory insects can help keep pest populations under control. Aphids and certain moth larvae can become pests for okra if not managed. Problems:Īs most gardeners can attest, we are not the only ones that enjoy dining on fresh produce growing in our gardens. If you find your soil is too alkaline, adding in coffee grounds can help drop the pH level, creating a more acidic environment. ![]() Be sure your plants have plenty of sunshine, at least 6 hours, and are in well drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 6.5-7.5). As they begin to grow, thin out the stragglers so the sturdier ones can thrive. Okra seeds can be planted in 1” deep hills that are about 18-24” apart. The acidic nature of buttermilk and vinegar help soften its hard seed coat. It is typical to soak seeds in water however some do use buttermilk or a weak vinegar. To plant okra it is best to soak the seeds overnight to improve germination. When planting okra in more temperate climates, this perennial plant becomes an annual and must be replanted each year. If planting later in the season, just be aware that okra’s nemesis is frost. As long as okra is planted about 2 weeks after the last expected frost date, after the soil has had a chance to warm a bit (> 65☏), it will be successful. What makes okra so hearty and grow so prolifically, is that it is drought tolerant, loves the sunshine, and while it prefers warmer climates, it can even be grown in temperate zones. Whichever it is, we do know that okra is a hearty plant that can be planted almost anywhere, and do exceedingly well. ![]() Some believe it was first cultivated in Ethiopia or West Africa, while others counter that South Asia has dibs. While okra can be found just about anywhere, its origin is up for debate. From Egypt to England, Brazil to Belgium, people are enjoying all okra has to offer. So by definition, okra is a fruit, and one that can be found in various parts of the world. While there is some question if okra is a fruit or vegetable, it does contain seeds all wrapped up in a nice little package we can eat. Okra is nestled comfortably in the Malvaceae (mallow) family of plants, which also houses hollyhock, cotton, and hibiscus. Lady’s fingers, ochro, kopi arab, bhindi, okro, and gumbo all pseudonyms for that quirky edible seedpod, officially known as Abelmoschus esculentus, that many of us simply call okra.
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