This variety can reach up to three to five feet tall. If you are in the South, the most appropriate varieties would be those meant for the long growing season. That way, you can pick an okra variety that has a higher chance of growing and surviving in your region.įor instance, if you are in the North, grow okra varieties meant for the short growing season. Okra Varietiesįor you to begin your journey to making okra a part of your vegetable garden, you should familiarize yourself with its different varieties. These okra pods contain white okra seeds filling a chambered structure shaped like a pentagon. It has palmate leaves with 5 to 7 lobes as well as white or yellow flowers that usually feature purplish centers.Įxpect the flowers of the okra to also provide a way for up to 7-inch elongated seed pods to come out. One more fact about the plant okra is that it follows a branching and upright growth habit. The good thing about the okra pods is that they have several culinary uses – one of which is to thicken stews due to their gummy mucilage. You can expect these okra pods to come out after the blooming of the okra’s flowers. However, most grow okra as a vegetable crop since it has edible seed pods. Some use okra as a landscape plant due to their aesthetically pleasing flowers. In regions considered as dry and tropical, though, where the okra is a native, it is classified as a perennial. Okra refers to a flowering plant that you can grow as an annual in almost all regions. Hardiness zones: 2 to 11 USDA zones Short Description.Type and pH level of soil: Fertile, moist, and well-drained Acidic, preferably 5.8 to 7.0 pH level.Size when mature: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.Conclusion Quick Facts About the Plant Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus).Best Place for Planting and Growing Okra.Quick Facts About the Plant Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus).*Add additional spices to your liking* Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast them whole or slice.Īrrange the okra slices in one layer on a foil lined cookie sheet. Roasted Okra is probably one of the easiest recipes. Label your storage containers with the variety of seeds and date harvested. Store harvested seeds in envelopes or jars. Very important: harvest seeds from your healthiest plant and make sure the pod is overripe. Harvest daily or every other day to avoid woody/tough pods. At that point the seed pods should be soft and two to three inches long. Start harvesting a few days after the okra blooms fade. Use scissors to harvest Okra pods from the stem. This heat loving crop is ready to harvest in as few as 60 days. Plant okra in full sun and water regularly, especially during flowering and pod development. Soil should be warm and moist but not soggy. Okra seeds can germinate in as few as 2 days and as many as 12 days. If planting directly in the garden, space seeds 6-12 inches apart. Sow Okra seeds in warm soil approx 1/2 to 1 inch deep in coconut coir, seed starting medium or directly in the garden. Soaking aids moisture absorption and germination. Prior to planting, soak the okra seeds in water for 12 to 18 hours to soften its hard seed coat. Okra can be cooked whole or sliced and can be prepared in a number of unique ways including frying, grilling, sautéeing, pan-roasting and even pickled. Okra is a fruit, though it is eaten as a vegetable. It's filled with tiny white seeds and is sometimes called lady's fingers due to its long, slender, tubelike shape. Okra is the seed pod of the Abelmoschus esculentus plant. Check out the beautiful bloom on this Burgundy Okra below! Fun fact, Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus. Okra is a beautiful, heat loving plant that is oh-so-easy to grow from seed.
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