Okra

Okra is a heat loving plant that typically has yellow flowers that result in tasty green okra pods.

Plant Okra after the danger of frost has passed when the soil temperature has warmed to 62 degrees (usually around mid to late April in zone 7). Okra planted too late in the spring may remain vegetative until late summer or early fall.

Prior to planting, apply 3-4 pounds per 100 feet of row of a complete fertilizer such as 10-20-10. Okra matures in 48-60 days. Harvest pods when they are 2-4″ long. Pick pods every other day. When the stem is difficult to cut, the pod is tough and over-ripe and not recommended for cooking. Okra will produce pods until frost.

Okra is popular in soups, stews and gumbo, It can be fried, boiled, pickled, grilled, steamed, braised and sautéed.

Bees also lover their blooms. Pollination of the blooms is critical in okra production. Follow the link to see more on How To Grow Okra.

We offer Okra in our 1204 Vegetables and #4 Charley’s Vegetables and #4 Peace Farm Organic size categories. In the 1204’s we grow Burgundy Okra and Clemson Spineless Okra. In the #4 Charley’s Vegetables we grow, Burgundy Okra, Clemson Spineless Okra and Texas Hill Country Red Okra. In the #4 Peace Farm we grow Clemson Spineless.

Burgundy Okra

Burgundy Okra is an heirloom okra variety. This unique type of okra has 3-6″ pods that are reddish-burgundy. The green leaves have burgundy ribs and the stems are also dark burgundy. The blooms add contrast with their creamy-yellow color against the green leaves and burgundy stems. Though it looks a bit different than the usual green okra, it is bursting with great okra flavor.

Plant Burgundy Okra in full sun 6-10″ apart in rows 30-40″ apart. Burgundy Okra can grow to 3-5 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. It matures in 50 days.

Burgundy Okra is the most prolific producing of the red/burgundy okras. Pods can reach 6-8″ but harvest them when that are no more than half that long to ensure the most tender okra pods. However, Burgundy Okra pods are supposed to remain tender even at the longer 6-8″ pods.

Burgundy Okra was introduced in 1983 and was an All-American Selections winner in 1988.

Clemson Spineless Okra

Clemson Spineless Okra is an heirloom okra. It produces a high yield of tender, spineless, ribbed pods. The plants can get tall and are covered in attractive yellow flowers.

Plant Okra in full sun 6-10″ apart in rows 30-40″ apart. Clemson Spineless Okra can reach 4-6 feet tall and matures in 50-64 days. Pods can reach 7-9″ long, but also harvest them when that are no more than half that long.

It can be grown in containers but the plants can get tall in Southern and Coastal areas with longer summers.

Clemson Spineless Okra is the traditional favorite for use in cooking since in 1939 when it was introduced and picked as the 1939 All-America Selections winner. It’s flowers are also edible. They can be fried, stuffed or eater fresh. The blooms have a mild, sweet flavor.

Texas Hill Country Red Okra

Texas Hill Country Red Okra, or just Hill Country Red as it’s often called, is a heirloom okra variety said to be from the southern Texas Hill Country. This unique type of okra has 3-6″ ribbed pods that are green with splashed of red and with red stems. Sunlight causes the pods to develop their attractive red patterns.

Plant Okra in full sun 6-10″ apart in rows 30-40″ apart. Hill Country Red Okra can grow to 4-6 feet tall and the pods mature in 60-70 days. Pods reach 6″ long at maturity but harvest when they are about half that long.

Texas Hill Country Red is well suited for the heat and humidity of southern gardens.