The Crispy Crunchy Okra at Trader Joes has become a popular snack among veggie lovers and the healthy snacking crowd. Since okra can reach 6 feet tall, plant it in an area of the garden . In reply to I grow okra, and have great by Donna (not verified). If the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should betossed. Pods should be cut using pruners from the main stalk, living a bit of a tip to the pod. Keep this knowledge in mind for your chosen variety (note it in your gardening journal!) TOOLS & SERVICES. This harvest practice goes against what we sometimes think about when it comes to growing vegetables as bigger is encouraged. } Check on them daily, and when they reach about three inches in length, they should be at the peak of flavor and tenderness, ready to harvest. It is relatively easy to grow okra for beginners but the key is to monitor the harvest. Fill the bags or containers to within 1/2 of the top, and prevent freezer burn by removing as much of the air as possible. Have cuts, spots, or discolored areas or that are bruised, limp, or soft. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yet you may have found this summer, as I have, that okra deserves a place in the summer garden. '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. It can also be used for cutting other types of vegetables from the plant such as green beans (pole or bush) as well as for harvesting figs or cut flowers particularly a rose which has thorny stems. Each flower will produce a single pod once it has been pollinated. Plant the seeds in well-drained soil in a sunny location, spacing them 6-8 inches apart. 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. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! 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. If it broke, it was justright. Standard varieties can top 8 feet ormore. The pods should be harvested when they are 2-3 inches in length. Okra needs to be harvested when it is four to five inches long. Pods form quickly during the peak of summer and you should look to harvest every 2-3 days. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year. Look for Okra pods that are 2 - 3 inches long with a bright green or purple color. So, before you add it to your compost, you will need to chop it up into small pieces or toss it down on the ground in your garden and run your lawn mower over it as you bag it before you add it to your compost. Older, tougher pods may be harvested and shelled for their unripe seeds which can be cooked like peas. When my okra plants are about 18-inches tall, I cut the top out of the plant, or cut it back to the nearest leaves from the top. If you feel like a wheelbarrow is just a little over the top for your gardening needs, a 5-gallon bucket may suffice. This can be done a few days after the blooms fade. Pour the salt over the okra and toss it to coat. If the pods are still developing, your plant is stillhealthy. The Red American Legion Poppy The Memorial Day Flower: The [], Dinnerplate Dahlia, Bristol Stripe The Dahlia Chronicles, Part III: The [], CONTAINER GROWN, Slicing Tomato, Silvery Fir Tree The Science & [], The Dibber in action The Dibber- A Marriage of Garden []. 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. Many gardeners are discovering okra and the range of this warm-weather crop has been creeping northward and gaining in popularity. And they often grow quickly, within a few days after flowering. 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). 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. 1. Get the best gardening tips straight into your inbox! Email: hello@okra.ai, OKRA Technologies. Dehydrator: A dehydrator can be a really useful way to preserve your okra harvest. 99 Derby Street, Suite 200 Okra needs warm weather, and typically 50 to 60 days before it produces a harvest. This pruning technique causes the buds to grow on the main stem and produce a secondary, late crop. The Original Hod (16 Quart) measures 19":x11"Wx10"H and has a capacity of approximately 16 quarts. Storing. Food Gardening Network and Food Gardening Magazine are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC. 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. Harvest okra when the pods are 1 to 4 inches long. The best time to harvest okra pods is when they reach around 3 to 5 inches in length. Between plants in a row, okra should be planted 9-12 inches and between rows of 3-6 feet. If the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should be tossed. My dad taught me that okra seeds do best if sowed in damp soil, barely covered, just before a rain. Bigger than this and you will find that the pods are woody and not as tender as they could be. The Jambalaya okra is a hybrid variety that produces green pods that have heavy yields that are great for pickling, frying, or stewing. You can have strip pokraGive me a nice girl and a dish of okra.. 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. Twine knife (ring knife): This little gizmo will make harvesting your okra so much easier. The major growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. The Handy Twine Knife fits on the top of your finger and allows you to harvest with the flick of. If one is predicted and podsare drying on the plant for seeds, cut the plant and hang it indoors to dry. All Rights Reserved. Dont skimp on thisyou need something that cuts well and will endure through many seasons. The general rule of thumb is to harvest your okra pods when they're between 3 to 5 inches long. You can find many delicious recipes for canning and pickling okra online. I have found that my spacing is probably a bit too close this season for some of my okra plants. The pods that you will want to keep are the ones that are 2 to 4 inches long. To prevent the seeds from rotting, the soil should have warmed to at least 65 degrees. Thank you for stopping by! Slimy, seed-filled pods just arent for everyone. Just remember to add another thickener to your gumbo if youve prepped your harvest with another cooking method first, to reduce its gooeyness. To control the emergence or spread of plant diseases and pests, get a dedicated spray bottle for your potion to do the job. Harvesting okra is something you can do when you are out harvesting your green and wax beans, then it becomes habit to go out and harvest okra as it ripens. Once you're done picking okra, store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator where they will last about a week or freeze the pods if you have too much to use. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Common Garden Weed Identification (with Photos), Misshapen/yellow leaves; distorted flowers/fruit; sticky honeydew (excrement); sooty, black mold, Plants wilt (sometimes on just one side) in daytime; leaves turn yellow (lower ones first); later, entireplant wilts/dies; stunting; stem cross section reveals brown discoloration, Destroy infected plants; avoid excessive nitrogen; in acidic soils, raise pH to 7.0; choose resistant varieties; disinfect tools; rotate crops, Leaves skeletonized (only veins remain); stems/flowers/fruit chewed; grubs feed on roots, Typically, white spots on upper leaf surfaces expand to flour-like coating over entire leaves; foliage may yellow/die; distortion/stunting of leaves/flowers, Destroy infected leaves or plants; choose resistant varieties; plant in full sun, if possible; ensure good air circulation; spray plants with 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 quart water; destroy crop residue, Roots knotty or galled; plants stunted/yellow/wilted. 36 mcg of vitamin A. Okra also provides some iron, niacin . Its blunt in front, so it only cuts what it catches. To plant: Soak the okra in water for 12 to 18 hours prior to planting to soften the outer shell of the seed. Once you have your pods and decided on your recipe, consider how you cut the pods. If the pods are left on the plant too long, they can begin to split and become over-mature. Gloves can also help ensure that you don't accidentally cut the okra stems while harvesting. It takes up to 60 days for okra to be at full maturity. Okra matures quickly, especially if you have a summer of hot weather which the plant prefers. 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. Nutritional Content. One of the main tips that okra enthusiasts will share with new okra growers is when to harvest okra. The blade is fixed and only sharp on the inside making it safer to carry and use around the garden. The L'il Hod (8 Quart) measures 16"Lx9"Wx9"H and has a capacity of approximately 8 quarts. Harvest the pods when they're about 2-3 inches long. Okra not only produces pods quickly, but the pods also grow and mature quickly. forms: { Water the plants about an hour before transplanting, so the roots will bind and be protected. In late summer, you can cut back the top third of your okra plants. When sowing your seeds, do so about half an inch to one inch deep. When you are harvesting your okra, you will want to keep pods that are: If you arent sure about whether or not to keep some of the longer pods that you harvest, clean them in your kitchen as if you were going to use them, and then try snapping them in half or cutting them open with a sharp knife. Once you make a cut, another okra pod will emerge from the same spot. There are several different okra varieties that we have available that are not only productive but have excellent flavor profiles. This way, you can still get through harvest season before it gets too cold. 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 wheelbarrow makes it easy for you to move soil and mulch from plant to plant; and it works as an excellent mixing bowl when youre combining the perfect soil blend. 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. Remove the okra pods when they turn brown and the sides begin to split. 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. Rinse the okra and drain. When picked regularly you are able to get multiple harvests off one okra plant. In 2021, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption . Though growing okra from seed is a popular, reliable method, it is also possible to propagate okra through stem cuttings. These cream-colored, hibiscus shaped flowers will be found against the plant stalk, below the large leaves. Keep soil mix temp. When harvesting okra, it is best to use scissors or a sharp knife to cut the pods off the plant. It can also be used for cutting other types of vegetables from the plant such as green beans (pole or bush). Label a paper bag with the seed variety and date harvested. Powered by The pods that you want to harvest are the ones that are 2 inches long or longer. } Space seeds 4 to 6 inches apart within the row. The crop is sensitive to frost and temperatures below 12C. 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. At the end of the growing season, when you are done harvesting your okra and any seeds that you want to save, you can pull your okra up by the roots. Okra most likely originated in northeast Africa where okra plants can be found growing wild along the banks of the White Nile River and where it has been part of the cuisine for thousands of years. } Please tell us which items you absolutely need for your okra gardening. All repel insect pests (like cabbage moths and spider mites) and also attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Premium vegetable peeler with dual blades, Bladed Food Peeler Recommended Uses For Product. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. long. Your okra will mature from 50 to 65 days after you plant it, depending on the growing conditions and the variety you planted. 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. Okra does not like to have its roots disturbed, so plants must be started in individual pots. So here we go with step by step instructions. Before sowing, it is useful to soak the seeds for 24 . Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own gardenwith our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.