But quick cooking will preserve more of its healthy nutritional benefits. Our tools and equipment are designs that have proven invaluable to gardeners for many, many generations. Your email address will not be published. For the planting medium, use a seed-starting mix and keep it constantly moist until seeds germinate usually in a week to 10 days. Collecting Okra Seeds - How To Save Okra Seeds For Planting Later, Okra Companion Plants - Learn About Companion Planting With Okra, Okra Plant Varieties: Lean About Different Types Of Okra Plants, Growing Hostas In Colorado And The Southwest US, Growing Fuchsia Flowers Care Of Fuchsias, The Importance Of Phosphorus In Plant Growth, Pepper Growing Problems And Bell Pepper Plant Diseases, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is a vegetable crop of high nutritional value, which presents great losses after harvest when stored under poor storage conditions. Okra will grow in containers, no more than 2 plants per half barrel container. Japanese beetles can thrive and defoliate the okra plant depending on the growth stage of your okra plants. It is a simple garden task you will perform a few times a week. The seeds will remain viable for up to three years if they are stored in a dark, dry, cool place that is protected from pests. ); For any other requests including press and speaking opportunities, please email hello@okra.ai, OKRA Technologies, St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WS, United Kingdom, Switchboard: +44 (0)1223 420252 While more expensive than a simple watering can, an investment in an irrigation system can pay offspecially to ensure proper watering when youre at work or on vacation! Unless it is near the end of the growing season and you want to harvest the okra seeds, you should remove these longer pods from your plants when you find them. Originating in Africa, it is a traditional dish in the southern U.S. and produced for both fresh and processing markets (Peirce, 1987 Wiley, New York). Regardless of type, irritation does not occur when you eatokra. 2022University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|College of ACES| Web Privacy Notice|EEO|Accessibility|Staff Login|myExtension, Extension Educator Local Food Systems and Small Farms, Serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago, Serving Carroll, Lee and Whiteside Counties, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you find that theyre already woody when you pick at three inches, toss this harvest into a dish thats going to be cooked low and slow, which may help to soften them a bit. 60 micrograms (mcg) of folate. Note: Okra has large, hairy leaves, as well as tiny spines on its pods, both of which may cause skin irritation; consider wearing gloves and/or long sleeves when handling. If youre not a fan of a heavy cornmeal coating, feel free to substitute half of it with flour. When harvest time is over, okra pods can be left on the plant to dry to save seed for next year. Prune dwarf varieties of okra in the same way to rejuvenate the plants. For Alaska and Hawaii, select your state on the following checkout page for a shipping quote. To enhance germination, soak okra seeds in water for several hours or overnight before sowing. Get a comfortable pair of gloves that fit well, so you still have full dexterity in your garden. Before sowing, it is useful to soak the seeds for 24 . } Congrats! and pick the rest when theyre 2 to 2 1/2 inches long instead. Get yourself a good-sized watering can, and have some fun finding a watering can with an interesting design that fits your personality. Okra grows very fast; therefore, it must be harvested every 2 days. You can soak the seeds overnight in tepid water to help speed upgermination. When picked often, okra will keep producing until the first frost. Our inventive, precision harvest tools include greens harvesters, machetes, knives, shears, and pruners, as well as the hones and sharpeners, sheaths, and replacement parts you need to keep them going year after year. Work with speed and make bigger cuts so as to reduce this mucilage if thats what you are after. Okra plants will continue to produce fruit if the pods are harvested frequently. Privacy Policy When harvesting okra this twine knife can be worn either above or below the knuckle of your finger. In northern climates, plant okra indoors four to six weeks prior to the last frost date. Some communities offer rain barrels at a special discount to encourage water conservation. Once the plant starts growing and reaches a height of about 3 inches, begin thinning the plant to be 30-45cm apart from each other. A 2-3 inch high layer of mulch will execute the job abundantly. Learn More "Working with OKRA to co-develop tools for our field teams has been really satisfying, it has been like working with a trusted partner, open and honest discussion and ability to challenge each other leading to a . The handy twine knife comes in five different colors that vary based on your finger size. For okra seeds, a sowing depth of 1 cm is sufficient. listeners: [], The Original Hod (16 Quart) measures 19":x11"Wx10"H and has a capacity of approximately 16 quarts. FREE SHIPPING OVER $99 US 48 | INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING VIA CALL-IN & ONLINE ORDERS ONLY. Our sister site, Foodal, has articles to consult for information on pickling and canning vegetables that you may easily apply when youve got a bumper crop on your hands. Some larger varieties may be able to hang around on the plant a little longer before they get tough. To store okra, put the uncut and uncooked pods into freezer bags and keep them in the freezer. Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. To speed germination, soak seeds for a few hours in warm water beforesowing. The flower buds, flowers, and pods will begin appearing at increasingly higher levels on the plant, and when they do, you can use pruning shears to remove those large lower leaves. Mucilage is the slime/goo that is released as soon as you cut into a pod and smaller pieces can produce more mucilage in your cooking compared to bigger pieces. The pods should be harvested when they are 2-3 inches in length. Plant herbs near okra such as sage, oregano, savory, coriander, dill, and thyme. 0.215 mg of vitamin B6. One of the main tips that okra enthusiasts will share with new okra growers is when to harvest okra. 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Ask the Experts, LLC. Cut the stem just above the cap with a knife. 57 mg of magnesium. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { If you are planting okra transplants, be sure to space them 1 to 2 feet apart to give them ample room togrow. Every gardenerno matter what plants youre tendingneeds a spade, or even several of different sizes. Photo credit: fz750/GettyImages Thin to one plant per pot/cell. It is relatively easy to grow okra for beginners but the key is to monitor the harvest. The ideal size to pick okra is 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. . To reduce the viscous quality of okras slimy mucilage, try soaking it in vinegar or lemon juice for about 30 minutes, or parboil it. Refrigerate okra pods after harvest. Summer insect pests do like okra. Food Gardening Network and Food Gardening Magazine are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC. Plant okra seeds about 1/2to 1inch deep and 12 to 18 inches apart in a row. Use your spade to move around compost, dig soil for your initial plant hole, and to keep your garden soil tidy. You may also prepare soaked or freshly picked okra by baking, roasting, or grilling it for a crisp texture, to be eaten that way or added to slow-cooked soups and stews. Pods should be soft and the seed should be only half-grown. Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania. Let us and the other readers know in the comments below! We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. My Mother tried to cook some okra years ago and it turned out SLIMMY! Okra was brought to the United States in the 1660s by slaves. For recipes that call for okra, visit Foodal, where youll find: Cooking Southern Style with Healthy Variations, and Big Mamas New Orleans Style Cosmopolitan Seafood Gumbo.. Checking the pods to prevent them from becoming too tough and woody to eat might keep you harvesting them on a daily basis. Keep the plants well watered throughout the summer months. Each flower will produce a single pod once it has been pollinated. Just remember that harvesting okra needs to be done often. Side-dress the plants with 10-10-10, aged manure, or rich compost (1/2 pound per 25 feet of row). [7] 6. Plant okra in the spring or early summer after the danger of frost has passed. Find out how you can access your own AI brain and how it will deliver cost-effective solutions, time-saving resources and targeted patient outcomes in your organisation, today. Harvest Okra Harvest okra when the pods are 1 to 4 inches long. Avoid cheap versions that can have flimsy handles that are prone to break. The device has been described as used for cutting an okra pod or flower from a plant. This can be done a few days after the blooms fade. Dried okra pods and stalks can look great as flower arrangements or holiday decorations. When mature, I slice the pods and dehydrate for use in soup. If the pods are left on the plant too long, they can begin to split and become over-mature. 'Take a 6 inch piece of stem from the actively growing tips of the plant, and remove the leaves from the bottom two thirds of the cutting,' explains Hyland. Have cuts, spots, or discolored areas or that are bruised, limp, or soft. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own gardenwith our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox. Harvest okra when pods are 1 to 4 inches long. Whats Killing My Broccoli? Soaking aids moisture absorption and germination. Because okra roots have a fragile hold on the ground, its best to snip rather than snap the stems cleanly above each pod, leaving a bit to grasp. With wit and hopefully some wisdom, she shares what shes learned and is always ready to dig into a new project! To avoid having to climb a ladder to harvest your okra, you can trim it back. Keep this knowledge in mind for your chosen variety (note it in your gardening journal!) Don't be surprised if your red types turn green, or at least a paler shade of red, during cooking. Pods should be cut using pruners from the main stalk, living a bit of a tip to the pod. When planting okra the best time to plant is during the spring, summer, or fall months. Okra is grown at elevations ranging from sea level to 1600 m. The optimum temperatures for the growth and production of high-quality pods range between 24 and 30C. Letting the fruits get extra big can take just a few days, or maybe another week or more. Email: hello@okra.ai. Collecting Okra Seeds - How To Save Okra Seeds For Planting Later. Contact with the stiff hairs on okra leaves can cause some people to itch; wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when you pick okra. This plant not only grows edible vegetables and beautiful flowers but also it isrich in vitamin A and low in calories, which makes it a great addition to yourdiet. When summer temperatures are at the hottest, okra hits its hottest growth streak, and that is also when it flowers and begins producing pods. It will produce pods five to six days after it blooms, and the pods will be ready for harvesting two to three days after they first appear. Harvest okra when the pods are 1 to 4 inches long. Yet you may have found this summer, as I have, that okra deserves a place in the summer garden. You can freeze okra pods without blanching them, but blanching them destroys the enzymes and kills the bacteria that would cause the color, flavor, texture, and nutritional value of your okra to deteriorate. OKRA.ai also ranked 9th as one of the fastest growing tech companies in the UK with 4,227% growth over the last four years! For best germination results, the pots should be bottom heated until the seeds sprout. Okra plants produce pods from mid-summer until temperatures drop in autumn, often up to the first frost. Okra tastes best the day you pick it. And they often grow quickly, within a few days after flowering. Or wash and blanch okra beforefreezing. The plants grow back and product another crop ofokra. With additional writing and editing by Mike Quinn and Allison Sidhu. Within the rows, okra plants should be about 12 to 18 inches apart. Okra needs warm weather, and typically 50 to 60 days before it produces a harvest. Use a sharp knife or secateurs and cut the pods off at the stem, leaving an inch of stem attached to ensure that plenty of nutrients are sent back into the plant for continued production. You can find many delicious recipes for canning and pickling okra online. Or you can leave them unseasoned to use them in stews, where theyll reconstitute and work as a thickening agent. One of my main memories of my grandmother is suiting up to harvest from the long rows of okra that we would grow. If the pods are still developing, your plant is stillhealthy. Okra lasts less than a week in the refrigerator. Growing okra. Before planting, mix aged manure and/or compost into thesoil. How they eat it in the south I could never figure out. Okra is sown when the danger of spring frosts passes, and when the soil at a depth of 5 cm reaches a temperature higher than 59 F. It is sown in the open space, with a row spacing of 23.5-39.5 inches and a row spacing of 8-12 inches, to a depth of 0.8-1.2 inches. When your chosen varieties approach maturity, pods begin to form. If the pods are tender, use a sharp knife to cut the stem cleanly just below the okra pod. Okra is a delicious vegetable; it is easy to grow and easy to harvest. See how to plant, grow, and harvestokra. Its also one that looks very different compared to your other summer crops. The Malvaceous plant family members youve probably grown or are familiar with are hibiscus and hollyhock. This tool is a vinyl-coated ring that slides onto your finger that makes it easier to harvest vegetables and cut twine when using the trellising technique. Choose a site in full sun with healthy soil and a lot of room. Unlike traditional varieties, the Silver Queen variety has less ribbing which means the pods remain tender at 6 inches long. But when are the plants ready to harvest and how do you do it? The best time to harvest okra pods is when they reach around 3 to 5 inches in length. Content uploaded. As soon as the pods begin to dry and crack, harvest and remove the seeds. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! Also: Prepare the soil, with a hole and a soil-less medium at the base of the hole . Harvesting okra is easy. By harvesting at the right size, it will ensure you're able to enjoy your okra this season- and it finds a place in future summer gardens to come. When seeding okra directly in the ground, wait until after the soil has warmed and the air temperature reaches at least 60 degrees. Pods should be soft and the seed should be only half-grown. If you want to experiment with creating your own recipes, flavorings that go well with okra include: You also can create your own vegetable blends by freezing, canning, or pickling okra together with: When canning, only fill the jars to within 1/2 inch from the top to allow room for the contents to expand when the jars are heated, and always remember to wipe the rim of the jars clean after filling them to ensure a tight and complete seal. Warmer soil temperatures will hasten germination, so consider placing a seed-starting heat mat under the seed trays. As each flower fades, you have a three to four day window to wrap up your harvest. When I grew up and I tried cooking it, it too turned out SLIMMY!!!! This is when okra is at its softest and mostdigestible. A useful garden tool, the garden trowel is handy when filling your containers and when mixing compost and worm castings. With heavy producers like 'Burgundy,'. Heat about a 1/2 a cup of oil in a skillet on medium to high heat. Rinse the okra and drain. However, once okra plants get so tall they become less productive and harvesting will be more difficult. please give me the answer to this question???? Okra does not store well, but if you must keep okra more than a day or two, store pods in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section of the refrigerator. You might also consider wearing gloves and long sleeves as the okra leaves and pods have very fine hairs that may cause some irritation to your skin. After blanching okra, you can freeze the pods whole, cut them in slices, or dice them. The plants will continue to produce at the lower levels. OKRA.ai wins prestigious Deloitte Fast 50 Women in Leadership Award - OKRA.ai ranked 9th in Deloittes fastest-growing tech companies in the UK 2022. Look for Okra pods that are 2 - 3 inches long with a bright green or purple color. The pods become woody, the spines firmer, and the stems harder to cut. ", "In my view, OKRA can help take Pharma to a new level when it comes to truly benefitting from AI in their commercial practices, and it helps that theyre a great team to work with too!". Please tell us which items you absolutely need for your okra gardening. Try to catch the pods or hold onto them as you cut the stems at higher levels, though, to keep the pods from becoming bruised by a fall. 13 Common Diseases. (function() { Working your okra patch or eating okra means having the right tools to do the job in both the garden and the kitchen. There are several different okra varieties that we have available that are not only productive but have excellent flavor profiles. long. Mequoda Publishing Network Do you have any essential gardening tools you use that arent listed here? When you are harvesting okra at the base of the plant, you may have your hands full as you try to cut stems while holding back the leaves. Nutritional Content. The name, okra, comes from the West African Ashanti word, nkruma, and its Cajun name, gumbo, comes from the Bantu word, ngombo. Do you have any essential gardening tools you use that arent listed here? Harvest the pods every day or two if you can or as often as you can as they can quickly turn tough and woody as they grow bigger. Wear gloves and handle the pods as little as possible, to prevent softening before use and skin irritation. The way to harvest okra is to wear gloves and long sleeves when picking pods to prevent the possibility of getting a rash from the small spines, and use garden shears or a sharp knife to gently cut the pods from the plant without bruising them. What do I need to do, In reply to I live in south Georgia my by karen (not verified). When picked regularly you are able to get multiple harvests off one okra plant. })(); Join our gardening family to receive the latest tips. Thank you for stopping by! If they are too difficult to cut, they are too old and should be removed as they will rob the plant of the nutrients it needs to produce new pods. The pods should be a very vibrant color, either green or purple depending on the variety you are growing. Removing them will encourage more pods to appear higher on the plant. Put the pods in canning jars and set them aside. See our TOS for more details. Step 5. His books include Vegetable Garden Growers Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Growers Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Growers Guide. To maintain a specific variety of okra, however, you will need to save seeds from five to 10 plants, and to preserve a rare variety, you will need the seeds from 10 to 25 plants. Seeds can be dried on paper towel for a few days, prior to storing in an envelope for sowing next year. 4 in 1 Handheld Electric Vegetable Cutter Set, Mini Wireless Electric vegetables chopper, Electric Garlic Mud Masher for Ginger, Chili, Fruit, Meat, etc. Okra pods will be ready to pick up after 3 to 4 days. All Rights Reserved |, Vegetable, Flower, Fruit and Ornamental Fungicide, FREE SHIPPING OVER $99 US 48 | INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AVAILABLE, Row by Row Episode 239: Secrets of Winter Squash, Row by Row Episode 238: How To Fix Leggy Seedlings, Row by Row Episode 237: How to Use Heat Mats, Row by Row Episode 236: New Garden Supplies That You Need, Row by Row Episode 235: Gardening In February, Row by Row Episode 234: New Irrigation Kits for 2023, Row by Row Episode 233: Tips and Tricks For Growing Potatoes, Row by Row Episode 232: Gardening In January, Row by Row Episode 231: NEW Seeds for 2023, Row by Row Episode 229: Cold-Tolerant Plants. With okra, the more pods you harvest, the more pods your plants will produce. Thin to 12-18" apart. Sow seeds 1 inch deep. Regular picking encourages more pods to form. Now that I live in the Midwest, I dont see the crop as often in community gardens and at farmers markets. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy. long. Have you heard how OKRA.ai is transforming Life Sciences through the use of intelligent brains? So, make sure that the place you choose has enough space. Invest in a higher quality trowel, and youll have it for years! One inch of water per week is ideal, but use more if you are in a hot, aridregion. 2023 Updated Herb Scissors Set - Herb Scissors With 5 Blades and Cover, Cool Kitchen Gadgets for Cutting Shredded Lettuce, Cilantro Fresh, Green Onion Fresh and etc. A few days after the flowers, come the edible seed pods. this is actually enhanced by contact with water in those classic stewed dishes. There are a couple of different ways to control these nematode problems in the garden area. Transplant after all danger of frost is over. If the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should be tossed. Destroy crop residue, including roots; choose resistant varieties; solarize soil; add aged manure/compost; disinfect garden tools; till in autumn; Yellow/white blotches on leaves; scarred, dimpled, or distorted fruit/pods; shriveled seeds; eggs, often keg-shape, in clusters on leaf undersides, Destroy crop residue; handpick (bugs emit odor, wear gloves); destroy eggs, spray nymphs with insecticidal soap; use row covers; weed diligently; till soil in fall, Sticky honeydew (excrement); sooty, black mold; yellow/silver areas on leaves; wilted/stunted plants; distortion; adults fly if disturbed; some species transmit viruses, Remove infested leaves/plants; use handheld vacuum to remove pests; spray water on leaf undersides in morning/evening to knock off pests; monitor adults with yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; invite beneficial insects and hummingbirds with native plants; weed diligently; use reflective mulch, Sow okra directly into the garden 3 to 4 weeksbefore the last spring. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Okra does not like to have its roots disturbed, so plants must be started in individual pots. The place of origin is Ethiopia, it is mainly grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. myself I saute` tomatoes [with onions if you like] and add cut okra. Cut each pod into 1/4"-1/2" lengths, coat with your favorite breading mix a fry in a pan on medium heat until golden brown. Air fryer: Air frying isnt limited to okra, but its a lower-calorie alternative to regular frying. Even so-called spineless varieties may have some setulose growth, so dont be surprised if you encounter these fine protrusions on pods, stems, and leaves. I grow okra, and have great success with the plant, but my question is what plants are compatible and what plants are combative with okra. A drip-watering irrigation system that operates on a timer is one of the best irrigation solutions for watering plants. If you let them grow to their full, mature length, you'll have a harvest of decorative pods or pods full of seeds for next season. If one is predicted and podsare drying on the plant for seeds, cut the plant and hang it indoors to dry. And you can eat the pods raw as well, if you like. In reply to My Mother tried to cook some by Jay (not verified). A severe freeze can damage pods. If the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should betossed. Twine knife (ring knife): This little gizmo will make harvesting your okra so much easier. Do you want to learn more? These spines might cause skin irritations. Here is more about what we do. Along with its height and growth structure, okra plants are known for their flowers. If you let it get any longer than that it becomes tough, woody and pretty much inedible. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. To plant: Soak the okra in water for 12 to 18 hours prior to planting to soften the outer shell of the seed. Okra pods are best when picked young. When you harvest Okra wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself from the time spines or stiff hairs that are found on some Okra varieties. "Working with OKRA to co-develop tools for our field teams has been really satisfying, it has been like working with a trusted partner, open and honest discussion and ability to challenge each other leading to a product that met, and surpassed expectation. The more you pick okra the more youll get. When harvesting okra, it is best to use scissors or a sharp knife to cut the pods off the plant. Cover it with plastic or paper freezer wrap to prevent freezer burn, and then put it in the freezer for two hours until it is frozen hard before transferring it to freezer bags or containers. 1 to 2 days after that time you may begin to harvest the pods because they are softer and easier to digest when eaten. Where summers are short, especially in more northern areas, start okra seeds indoors in peat pots under full light 3 to 4 weeks before the last springfrost. While tedious and even sometimes difficult to do with a watering can, you might want to consider an irrigation method for keeping your plants slowly and deeply watered. If you would rather direct seed okra plants the best time is either late spring or summer using our walk-behindgarden seeder. its no coincidenceokra is a member of the hibiscusfamily! If the pods cut or snap open easily, they are still good, but you should use them within a day or two. Harvest often: The more you pick, the more flowers will appear, and okra goes from flowering to fruit in a fewdays.