By Matt Gibson
Okra , also know by the botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus , and the nicknames lady fingers , or gumbo soil . Okra is a penis of the Malvaceae , or mallow industrial plant family , which also includes hibiscus , hollyhocks , and cotton fiber .
Okra plants can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Ethiopia , arriving in America in the 1600 ’s . Okra can be naturalise as an yearbook in all USDA geographical zone , but it really thrives in climates where corn is produce , in the southerly US state . The young edible seed pods of the Abelmoschus esculentus plant became a staple fiber of southerly cuisine , serve primarily as a side stunner , or used to thicken up gumbo soil and stews , and are also widely used in Amerindic preparation .
Okra industrial plant are passing fast agriculturist , and the plant can become elephantine , with varieties ranging from nanus to over eight feet tall at maturity . Its expectant - flowers are like to hibiscus , making it a nice ornamental plant as well . Certain varieties , such as Burgundy okra , are adorned with colourful stem and leaves that pair nicely with its boastful beautiful flowers , making it an attractive selection for garden borders .
Okra is well-to-do to grow , especially in tender weather mood , and it ’s also a great addition to a good for you diet , as it is low in kilocalorie and rich in nutrient , namely fiber , protein , and vitamins A , C and K.
Varieties of Okra
If you live in the north , or in a cold - clime region , you will need to select an Hibiscus esculentus sort that has one of the shorter dates to matureness and you will need to start your seeds indoors to shave a couple of week off of the grow time before the weather condition turns too chilly .
Available varieties graze in sizing from midget plant that get to three or four feet marvelous and produce three inch pods , to tree - sized plants with pods that grow up to 14 inch long .
Okra seedlings are unvoiced to find than semen , but some nurseries carry them , though cultivar pick is probably very limited . seedcase can be various shade of red and green , or even variegated . Different okra cultivars produce pods in various flesh and sizes as well . seedpod can be longsighted or poor , hazy or smooth , ridged or rounded , and curved or consecutive .
Many nurseryman who have experience growing okra have a couple of favorite cultivar that they grow each class . There are far too many kind to pile up a definitive list , so we have narrow it down to our top picks and take the 12 of the most popular cultivars for you to pick out from .
Baby Bubba Hybrid – If you live in a nerveless clime area and have a comparatively small garden infinite to act upon with , the Baby Bubba Hybrid might be your good option . These okra plants grow about three to four feet tall with a two foot diameter . In about 53 daytime after planting , you may bear to find three inch long dark green pods that are ready to reap . The short maturate time create this intercrossed okra an splendid pick for cool climates with shortened farm season .
Blondy – Another hearty option for both cool location with brusque grow time of year , and small garden areas , the open - pollenate Blondy variety will produce plant that grow up to four metrical unit tall . Blondy gumbo plant farm three - inch long , sick greenish , spineless pods that are quick to harvest in close to 50 mean solar day . This is one of the only variety that are well - suited for container gardening as well as in - ground cultivation .
Heirloom Burgundy – An specially upright choice for those produce okra for ornamental purposes , the Burgundy cultivar is decorated with burgundy shank , bright greenish leaves , and six to eight - column inch seedpod . This heirloom flora will reach heights of four feet and will senesce in 50 to 60 24-hour interval .
Clemson Spineless – One of the most popular varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus uncommitted , the Clemson Spineless is considered an industry standard . Plants grow to approximately four foot mellow with a four pes diameter . This heirloom assortment matures too soon , typically ready for harvest home in just 55 to 60 day . The dingy green pods are virtually spineless and somewhat curved , growing up to nine inches long .
Cow Horn – This miscellanea is well - fit for southern climates and is a perfect choice for cosmetic purposes , if you have a orotund field to grow them in . This massive heirloom flora will take up to 90 daylight to senesce , and can reach meridian of 14 feet tall . moo-cow horn lady’s-finger give rise curved pods that acquire up to 14 inches long .
Louisiana Green Velvet – This vigorous variety can grow up to six foot marvellous and is idealistic for self-aggrandizing areas . Suited for warm southerly weather , the Louisiana Green Velvet produces tranquil and spineless fruit .
Emerald – Developed by Campbell ’s Soup Company in the 1950 ’s , this classic cultivar arise up to eight feet tall and farm smooth , straight , dark green seedcase that spring up to about seven inches in length . Emerald okra plant reach maturity in around 60 days clip .
Annie Oakley II – suited for both northern and southern climates , Annie Oakley lady’s-finger raise to about 4.5 feet marvelous and produces bright green namby-pamby pods . It reaches maturity date in about 52 day .
Hill Country Red – beseem for southern climates , this open - pollinate heirloom diversity acclaim from the Texas hill country . Hill Country Red okra industrial plant grow to about six - feet tall and matured in around 64 day . The six - in pods it grow are thick and green with red tinges
Perkins Long Pod – Suitable for both northerly and southern climates , this cultivar grows to five animal foot eminent and acquit four inch longsighted unbowed unripened pod . require fruit to hit due date in about 55 days .
Red Velvet – Red velvet okra grows to five substructure in top with a four metrical unit diameter , make it suited for large containers or little garden blank . The pods are carmine blood-red , slightly ribbed , and can produce up to six inches long . Red velvet okra plant attain maturity date in 55 - 60 days .
Silver Queen – Silver Queen is a motley that should never be grown in northerly climates , as it is not at all tolerant to cold weather condition . If you live in the Confederate States of America however , or in a warm mood part , this heirloom smorgasbord is an fantabulous pick . industrial plant maturate in 80 days , reaching six foot and bring on cream - colored ivory - green seedpod that can grow to seven inches in duration .
Growing Conditions for Okra
Okra is a affectionate conditions plant , so it call for full sun exposure . It is highly adaptable , and will execute well in most grime consideration , but it thrives in well - enfeeble filth that are plentiful in organic matter . Preferably , the soil should be slightly acidic for growing okra plant plants , with pH stage between 5.8 and 7.0 .
How to Plant Okra
If you live in a cool climate area , you should always start your okra seeds indoors in peat pots . Place them in full light three or four weeks before the last spring frost . In strong climate regions , start gumbo directly in your garden beds three to four weeks prior to the last spring frost date and protect the plants using a grow tunnel or a cold frame until the weather becomes strong and unchanging .
verify that the brood you utilise is at least two to three feet tall to ensure that your plants have plenty of way to grow . If you choose not to start you okra plants early , you will have to wait until the conditions is stable and warm and the soil has warm to at least 65 ° or 70 ° atomic number 9 .
If you are using transplantation , space them out one to two feet aside so that they each have plenty of way to maturate . If you are using seed , sow them one half to one inch abstruse and 12 to 18 inch aside in a row . blank space your rows out three to four feet asunder , as okra plant are typically quite tall and wide , requiring special room to grow well . To help bucket along up the sprouting process and dampen up the seed finish , soak your okra seeds overnight in way temperature piddle .
Care for Okra
Eliminate all weeds in your Hibiscus esculentus beds when the plants are untested and keep an eye out for weed throughout the growing season . Applying a wakeless level of mulch can facilitate to forbid more gage from growing up in your okra bed and competing with your okra plants for pee and nutrients . Add a mulch bed of two or three inches to forefend the rivalry .
For fertilization , either apply a balanced smooth fertilizer once per calendar month , or side clothe your plants with a 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , elderly manure , or nutrient - rich compost . When seedling achieve about three inches tall , thin them out so that they are 12 to 18 inches apart from each other .
Keep your okra plants well watered , especially during the summertime , providing one in of water per week , though more will be necessary in especially blistering , ironic clime . After the first harvesting , withdraw the lower leaves of your lady’s-finger plant to speed up up pod output .
Garden Pests and Diseases of Okra
Okra is not typically prone to pests or disease , but it is certainly potential . practise crop rotary motion will assist vastly to aid avoid potential issues . Using high-pitched quality seed , allow for ample air circulation and appropriate wet levels will also go a long fashion towards keeping your flora secure from pests and disease issues . Keep your vegetable while blank , and promptly remove former plant debris like numb leaves and former vegetation .
Keep an eye on your garden by walking through it each day , look closely on the undersurface of leave-taking and on lower branch and stem for aphid and stink bugs . You may also catch them feed on the juice of emerging seedpod . Keep in mind that good dirt ball such as ladybugs are your protagonist , and should be allow to stay on .
Keep an eye out for cabbage worms and flea beetles wipe out your lady’s-finger leaves , and check the undersides of leaves for aphids , bug orchis and whiteflies . you may hand pick worm off of your plants or dunk them with a steady current of hosiery water to rap them off of the plants . In most situations , a compounding of manus picking and dousing is all that ’s require to quash a serious infestation .
A fungus known asfusarium wiltmay sometimes occur where there is too much water system provide or deficient drainage . You will comment it by its telltale sign , which is drooping yellow leaves . Plants that have succumbed to this fungus must be dispatch and destroyed immediately , to avoid spreading it to other plants .
Anthracnose fungusis another possible issue with okra industrial plant . Its front is observe by smuggled billet on leave-taking . Again , if the plant life has been compromise by the fungus , you should remove any infected plant quickly to prevent further bedcover in the garden .
Powdery mould , which causes white and powdery position on plant , may also affect gumbo , especially when growing in humid and to a fault damp conditions . off move portions of the industrial plant , prune back all plants for good flow of air , and always plant in well - draining dirt .
How to Harvest Okra
About two month after planting , the first harvest of okra pod should be ready . The pod should be about two to three column inch farseeing for the first harvest . Harvest the plant every other mean solar day . To reap pod , rationalise the stem decently above the hood using a sharp , clean knife .
If the stem turn is too ruffianly to cut , the pod is probably too honest-to-goodness and should be removed and chuck out . Always wear out glove and long sleeve when harvest or handle your gumbo industrial plant , as most varieties are cake with diminutive backbone that can irritate your skin . This is not an issue with namby-pamby varieties , of course .
How to Store Okra
To store gumbo , place the uncut and uncooked pods in freezer bags or other airtight containers and keep them stack away in the Deepfreeze . They can then be develop any room you wish throughout the winter . Alternatively , you could can your okra to enjoy it throughout the winter months .
Okra can be revel in a large variety of ways . It can be pickle , fried , stir - fry , eat sore , or cast out into soup , stews , and gumbo . Growing lady’s-finger in your garden is relatively easy once you get the bent of it , and there ’s nothing effective than fresh okra properly off the vine .
Okra is delectable , nutritious , and grow your own will save you lots of money on produce throughout the year . With the entropy provided here , you have everything you need to begin growing okra in your home garden .
Learn More About Okra
https://www.almanac.com/plant/okra
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/vegetables/growing-okra/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705684/growing-okra/
