Pale pods, even if the right size, can be woody. 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. See our TOS for more details. If you leave them too long, the pods get hard and woody. Okra grows very fast; therefore, it must be harvested every 2 days. When your chosen varieties approach maturity, pods begin to form. On the stove, cook for 25 minutes and the soft insides of okra will help create a nice thick savory broth to serve overrice. Or wash and blanch okra beforefreezing. Avoid too much nitrogen, which deters flowering and encourages leafy growth. Get Your Daily Dose of B Vitamins with These Homegrown Vegetables, How to Plant and Grow Daikon: Add Some Zing to Your Garden. Dont let mature pods stay on the plant; they will become stringy and bitter, andlike summer squashthe plant will stop producing. Transplanting Okra. COPYRIGHT 2023 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Photo credit: fz750/GettyImages When harvesting okra this twine knife can be worn either above or below the knuckle of your finger. Look for Okra pods that are 2 - 3 inches long with a bright green or purple color. 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. If the pods are left on the plant too long, they can begin to split and become over-mature. A good rule of thumb is that you can harvest okra about two months after you planted okra seeds when the pods are about 2-4 inches long. The tender young leaves are also edible, for a fresh addition to salads, or as a cooked side dish. How they eat it in the south I could never figure out. Due to these plants loving the warmer weather temperatures they need to be planted in an area with plenty of sunlight. Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations: Food Gardening Network Your email address will not be published. Handle them gently as the skin is easily marked. Well walk you through the process and give you all of our tips and tricks, and then finish up with some preparation and recipe recommendations. Sign up for our newsletter. But quick cooking will preserve more of its healthy nutritional benefits. Okra seeds won't germinate if it's too cold; the seeds will rot in the ground. Also Can Used for Cutting Paper. Wear. A standard sprinkler system is not the best solutionwhile easy to set up, the wide-ranging water coverage of a sprinkler can lead to wet plant leaves that promote diseases and can encourage weeds. 4. His books include Vegetable Garden Growers Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Growers Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Growers Guide. and pick the rest when theyre 2 to 2 1/2 inches long instead. Were here to help! One of the main tips that okra enthusiasts will share with new okra growers is when to harvest okra. If you dont already have some of these items, please check our Resources about Okra for recommended suppliers for acquiring the right tools and equipment. We are delighted to inform you that OKRA.ai is the winner of the Deloitte UK Fast 50 Women in leadership award. What about you? Or, try roasting okra bring out its natural nuttiness. If you can tolerate the slime factor (or if you love it!) Whats Killing My Broccoli? 60 micrograms (mcg) of folate. Sow seeds 1 inch deep. 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. For okra seeds, a sowing depth of 1 cm is sufficient. 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! The plants will continue to produce at the lower levels. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444. Plant leaves and fruit dont need water, the roots in the soil do. This is also a good way to save seeds from open-pollinated varieties that will produce replicas of parent plants when sown next growing season. Alternately, place the pods in a lidded jar and store in the refrigerator. Having both hands free. Browse 140 harvesting okra stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. For a nice stewy dish, simmer fresh tomatoes and onions and perhaps some pre-fried bacon pieces. Okra: Harvest when pods are 2 to 3 inches long. Bigger than this and you will find that the pods are woody and not as tender as they could be. Choose a site in full sun with healthy soil and a lot of room. Keep soil mix temp. If you collect rainwater, you can put it to good use when it comes time to tend your plants. Its blunt in front, so it only cuts what it catches. 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. This is one thing you can go basic onno need for anything fancy, as a simple plastic spray bottle is fine. The pods become woody, the spines firmer, and the stems harder to cut. Thank you for stopping by! Some areas of the country experience drought conditions in the spring and summer, and some municipalities may impose watering bans; that means hand watering only. A major pest that can harm the growth of okra plants is root-knot nematodes. This way, you can still get through harvest season before it gets too cold. 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. Plant okra seeds about 1/2to 1inch deep and 12 to 18 inches apart in a row. Have you heard how OKRA.ai is transforming Life Sciences through the use of intelligent brains? To reduce the viscous quality of okras slimy mucilage, try soaking it in vinegar or lemon juice for about 30 minutes, or parboil it. If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. Set your fresh okra in a strainer and place it over a large bowl. Before planting, mix aged manure and/or compost into thesoil. Do you want to learn more? Of course, the most famous okra dish is probablygumbo. Powered by Just remember that harvesting okra needs to be done often. 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. Once the seeds sprout, thin the seedlings to 18-24 inches apart. Keep the plants well watered throughout the summer months. The Answers in the Blowing Wind, Okra Seedlings Taproot Fragile, Handle With Care, Plant Okra When Its Hot, Not When Its Cold, OkraA Warm Weather Crop That Grows in Cool Climates, Too, Have stems that are tough to cut, or that. 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. Pickled okra makes a tasty addition to a charcuterie plate! To grow okra at home, start by purchasing okra seeds from a reputable nursery or garden center. Along with its height and growth structure, okra plants are known for their flowers. Regular picking encourages more pods to form. As all the Okra fruits do not ripen simultaneously, harvesting is done once in 3-4 days. OKRA.ai joining forces with Envision Pharma Group, OKRA.ai wins prestigious Deloitte Fast 50 Women in Leadership Award, Webinar: NLP Insights to Transform Customer Engagement, Machine learning and the 4th industrial revolution, Uncover the benefits of AI for Life Sciences, Use foresight and let AI guide you to the best opportunity and the right time, Enable teams to make faster decisions and know what makes an impact, Unite scientific information to deliver tailored HCP engagement, Drive internal/external medical strategy with critical insights from the Field, Obtain accurate drug price for submission, Avoid lengthy manual analysis and clinical research, Gain the upper hand in payer negotiations. The Star of David produces shorter and thicker pods that are excellent for frying in the kitchen. One of my main memories of my grandmother is suiting up to harvest from the long rows of okra that we would grow. 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! We love to share vegetable gardening tips that will take you from seed to kitchen serving. It's important to plant okra at the right time. 23 mg of vitamin C. 0.2 mg of thiamin. Soil needs to be fertile and well-drained neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Thin to one plant per pot/cell. As each flower fades, you have a three to four day window to wrap up your harvest. Required fields are marked *. If they are difficult to cut open, then they have become too mature, and you should add them to your compost. 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. Prune the tops of okra plants when they reach 5 to 6 feet tall. Okra grows best in warm, humid weather and requires full sun. Leaving the pods on the plant to mature like this slows down the development of new pods. Okra can be consumed in a number of waysbreaded and deep-fried, pickled, stewed, in Indian cuisine, and even raw in the field! Just remove the cap and split lengthwise, and roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes; we cover with aluminum foil for the first half ofcooking. Put the pods in canning jars and set them aside. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The Handy Twine Knife fits on the top of your finger and allows you to harvest with the flick of. If you look at the flower of okra, youll see a resemblance to a hibiscus flower. Okra bears pretty flowers before making fruit. In reply to I grow okra, and have great by Donna (not verified). When sowing your seeds, do so about half an inch to one inch deep. In late summer, you can cut back the top third of your okra plants. 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. Water the plants regularly, and when the pods reach 3-4 inches in length, harvest them. Harvest often: The more you pick, the more flowers will appear, and okra goes from flowering to fruit in a fewdays. Severely hot, dry weather or a harsh change in temperature, or poor drainage can cause bud drop. You will most likely have to push these leaves aside to find the flowers and pods and hold the leaves back as you harvest the pods, but be careful not to damage the leaves or knock down any flower buds, flowers, or pods when you move the leaves as you search. Let us and the other readers know in the comments below! This type of system better controls how much water you use, minimizes water lost to evaporation, and more exactly directs water to where you want to soak your soil. 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. callback: cb All Rights Reserved. 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. Older, tougher pods may be harvested and shelled for their unripe seeds which can be cooked like peas. Spineless types have pods that dont present this problem. If you feel like a wheelbarrow is just a little over the top for your gardening needs, a 5-gallon bucket may suffice. Do you have any essential gardening tools you use that arent listed here? If you let it get any longer than that it becomes tough, woody and pretty much inedible. ", "The team is superb, very collaborative and willing to flex their approach to meet our needs. 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. For best germination results, the pots should be bottom heated until the seeds sprout. It takes up to 60 days for okra to be at full maturity. Once you make a cut, another okra pod will emerge from the same spot. Email: hello@okra.ai, OKRA Technologies. Okra is a warm season vegetable that produces long, thin, edible pods nicknamed ladies' fingers. In late summer, cut the tops of tall plants back by one-third and new buds and pods will appear along the main stem to produce a late-season crop. Always label frozen, canned, or pickled vegetables with the what vegetable is in the package or jar, the date that you processed it, and the seasonings or recipe that you used to prepare it. Sow the okra seeds inch deep in light soil and 1 inch deep in heavy soil. Harvest the pods when they're about 2-3 inches long. Okra plants will continue to produce fruit if the pods are harvested frequently. Keep this knowledge in mind for your chosen variety (note it in your gardening journal!) While not as big as hibiscus flowers, I have certainly attended weddings in the south where okra flowers have been used in boutonnieres. Work with speed and make bigger cuts so as to reduce this mucilage if thats what you are after. After blanching okra, you can freeze the pods whole, cut them in slices, or dice them. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. Add chopped okra. Older, tougher pods may be harvested and shelled for their unripe seeds which can be cooked like peas. How to Save Okra Seeds Welcome to Harvest to Table. 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. My dad taught me that okra seeds do best if sowed in damp soil, barely covered, just before a rain. Nutritional Content. Gloves can also help ensure that you don't accidentally cut the okra stems while harvesting. Another benefit of growing okra is they work great for succession planting throughout the warmer months. And you can eat the pods raw as well, if you like. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company Harvesting Okra Okra is ready for harvest 55 to 65 days after planting. How to propagate okra Propagate by seed collected from older pods, which should be allowed to dry on the plant. A few days after the flowers, come the edible seed pods. All of these varieties work great when used for pickling, frying, stewing, or boiling in recipes on the homestead. The general rule of thumb is to harvest your okra pods when they're between 3 to 5 inches long. In more temperate climates, to grow okra, the seed must be started indoors, 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. 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. A 2-3 inch high layer of mulch will execute the job abundantly. But when are the plants ready to harvest and how do you do it? Learn more about. Now that I live in the Midwest, I dont see the crop as often in community gardens and at farmers markets. To prevent the seeds from rotting, the soil should have warmed to at least 65 degrees. Simply use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut the stem, leaving about 1/4 inch of the stem at the top of the okra pod. Harvesting Okra The edible okra fruitsthe seed podsgenerally appear about 50 to 60 days after the seedlings sprout, immediately after the flowers bloom. Slip it on the upper part of your finger, just past the first knuckle. In fact, it grows so quickly that its pods are ready to harvest only four to five days after you see the initial flower. Growing okra is a simple garden task. Many gardeners are discovering okra and the range of this warm-weather crop has been creeping northward and gaining in popularity. This will make for a great crop the second time around. In 2021, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption . Harvesting Okra Okra needs to be harvested when the pods are still soft. The best tool for harvesting okra in the garden is our Handy Twine Knife. Invest in a higher quality trowel, and youll have it for years! If pods stay wet, they will potentially begin to mold and develop a slimy, outer coating. The pods that you will want to keep are the ones that are 2 to 4 inches long. 13 Common Diseases. Another heirloom variety is Cowhorn which is an earlier producer that has long tender pods that reach up to 10 inches long. Simply use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut the stem, leaving about 1/4 inch of the stem at the top of the okra pod. Please tell us which items you absolutely need for your okra gardening. While in the same plant family, hollyhock and hibiscus are in two different genera than okra. While that's soaking, put about a cup of cornmeal in a dish with salt and pepper. When planting okra the best time to plant is during the spring, summer, or fall months. The Memorial Day Flower: The Story of The Red American Legion Poppy, The Dahlia Chronicles, Part III: The Grande Dames of the Dahlia Garden-The Dinnerplate Dahlias, The Science & Art of Growing Tomatoes in Containers, The Dibber-A Marriage of Garden Art and Functionality. Okra plants are tall, sospace out the rows 3 to 4 feetapart. For Alaska and Hawaii, select your state on the following checkout page for a shipping quote. Dry it out and use it in floral arrangements or save the seeds for nextyear. The device has been described as used for cutting an okra pod or flower from a plant. As for those well past their prime, the seeds inside may still be tender enough to cook and enjoy, and happen to make a nutritious substitute for coffee when roasted and brewed. This pruning technique causes the buds to grow on the main stem and produce a secondary, late crop. If you like, you might try dehydrating your own at home the low and slow way, in a food dehydrator. These cream-colored, hibiscus shaped flowers will be found against the plant stalk, below the large leaves. If you didnt plant a spineless variety, you will probably want to wear long sleeves and gloves when searching for and harvesting okra because some gardeners find that the spines irritate their skin. 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. To reduce the viscous quality of okra's slimy mucilage, try soaking it in vinegar or lemon juice for about 30 minutes, or parboil it. An ergonomic harvesting bucket hangs over both shoulders and sits right in front of you. 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. Growing up in East Tennessee, okra was one of the most common vegetables I both ate and grew. Sowing and planting okra. Side-dress the plants with 10-10-10, aged manure, or rich compost (1/2 pound per 25 feet of row). 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. Click this article to find out all about growing red okra plants. You can have strip pokraGive me a nice girl and a dish of okra.. While the Red Burgundy is a highly-productive heirloom variety that has dark red pods that stay tender at longer pod lengths. The major growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Okra can be harvested for upwards of twelve weeks if properly watered, fertilized, and picked in a timely manner. Okra needs full sun and temperature fluctuations can cause stress. Delivering in Medical, Commercial, and Market Access, OKRA.ai is transforming Pharmaceutical industry operations. The pods should be a very vibrant color, either green or purple depending on the variety you are growing. When I grew up and I tried cooking it, it too turned out SLIMMY!!!! Get a comfortable pair of gloves that fit well, so you still have full dexterity in your garden. All Rights Reserved. Thin to 12-18" apart. ", "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!". Copyright 2020 Hoss Tools. Do you have any essential gardening tools you use that arent listed here? The device has been described as used for cutting an okra pod or flower from a plant. It can also be used for cutting other types of vegetables from the plant such as green beans (pole or bush). All repel insect pests (like cabbage moths and spider mites) and also attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania. ); Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .slick-slider#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83656.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83656.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; } Okra needs warm weather, and typically 50 to 60 days before it produces a harvest. Once you have harvested the okra pods, they should be used within a few days for the best flavor and texture. The first flower buds, flowers, and subsequent pods will appear among the large leaves at the base of the plant. Both of these ornamental plants are two that I commonly see in many home landscapes. We recommend transplanting okra in the early spring to get a jumpstart on production and early germination of plants during the growing season. Harvest okra pods using garden pruners or scissors leaving a short stub attached to the fruit. Some larger varieties may be able to hang around on the plant a little longer before they get tough. Larger okra pods tend to be tough and fibrous. Harvesting History was founded in 2016 to provide its customers with the finest quality horticultural and agricultural products available today including seeds, roots, bulbs, tubers, plants, garden tools and equipment, garden clothing, and garden-related books and art. Care and Feeding Vegetables in Containers, Fertilizer for Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants, Grow Bags: Best Vegetable Varieties to Grow, Balcony and Rooftop Vegetable Garden Basics. When you live where the summers are short, some varieties won't have enough time to form seeds to harvest. Spread the pods out to dry on landscaping material or screens or hang them in mesh bags until the pods become brittle. Prune dwarf varieties of okra in the same way to rejuvenate the plants. Harvesting okra is easy. Okra plants will continue to produce fruit if the pods are harvested frequently. 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. The longer they grow, the tougher they are. The Crispy Crunchy Okra at Trader Joes has become a popular snack among veggie lovers and the healthy snacking crowd. Pods should be soft and the seed should be only half-grown. A drip-watering irrigation system that operates on a timer is one of the best irrigation solutions for watering plants. Okra seeds are large, so screening and winnowing them easily separates the seeds and the chaff. There are several different okra varieties that we have available that are not only productive but have excellent flavor profiles. Avoid cheap versions that can have flimsy handles that are prone to break. Prior to planting, soak the okra seeds in water for 12 to 18 hours to soften its hard seed coat. Over-ripe pods are tough and woody. CURBSIDE PICKUP WELCOME. The ideal size to pick okra is 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. For more guidance that will include more visual aids for all the visual learners out there and will also be more entertaining, please save the date for our upcoming virtual Good Food for Thought event, all about getting ready for Livin' la Vida Okra on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm.This fun AND practical event will include a presentation on how to plant your okra seeds with students . Each flower will produce a single pod once it has been pollinated. OKRA helped us to uncover actionable insights. support@foodgardening.mequoda.com. If you want to start plants indoors before the outdoor growing season commences, you can try several environmentally friendly and free ways to begin with materials you probably already have: Using a pair of garden glovesand wearing long sleeveswhen youre tending to your plants is a good way to avoid skin irritation and to protect your fingers, hands, and arms. Content uploaded. Have cuts, spots, or discolored areas or that are bruised, limp, or soft. FREE SHIPPING OVER $99 US 48 | INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING VIA CALL-IN & ONLINE ORDERS ONLY. 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. As soon as the pods begin to dry and crack, harvest and remove the seeds. Temperature is the key to a successful okra harvest. Harvest okra early in the morning or late in the evening before temperatures rise, which helps prevent wilting. listeners: [], The best time to harvest okra pods is when they reach around 3 to 5 inches in length. Within the rows, okra plants should be about 12 to 18 inches apart. The best tool for harvesting okra in the garden is our Handy Twine Knife. Hoss Tools 205K subscribers We've found the best tool for harvesting okra and cut flowers. Okrathrives in warm weather and is traditionally grown in the southern U.S., though there are varieties for northern growers, too. 0.215 mg of vitamin B6. 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). Use pods immediately or they will begin to lose quality and flavor. Okra pods can be cooked just after harvest in stews, gumbos, or as a fried side dish. 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. Use a hand pruner or twine knife to slice ripened pods from the plant, and you'll be in and out of the okra patch in record time. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. Harvest the pods when tender and immature, about 5-10cm (2-4in) long. 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. 82 mg of calcium. 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. Okra grows very quickly. His Vegetable Garden Growers Masterclass is available online. The Jambalaya okra is a hybrid variety that produces green pods that have heavy yields that are great for pickling, frying, or stewing. Okra not only produces pods quickly, but the pods also grow and mature quickly. 13 Common Diseases, Whats Killing My Broccoli? However, harvesting Okra can be tricky because you have to harvest the pods before they harden. For the planting medium, use a seed-starting mix and keep it constantly moist until seeds germinate usually in a week to 10 days. Its like having your own personal claw, and it will slice the pods neatly from the plant. 57 mg of magnesium. 1 to 2 days after that time you may begin to harvest the pods because they are softer and easier to digest when eaten.