The title says it all!

I was THRILLED with the success I had with my Clemson Spineless okra last year, and I just got a seed catalog with a burgundy variety, and a thorny variety that is supposed to have huge yields.

So, would it be ok to grow these all together, or will I have to worry about cross polination? The okra area is 2 4x4' raised beds in super south facing sunnyland.

Thanks!!

It is ok to grow the different kinds..you just could not save seed from them..because yes they would cross pollinate.

The burgundy kind is fun...it is a beautiful burgundy color and turns green when cooked. It has longer skinnier pods then the clemson does. And it does taste the same as the clemson. As for the thorny one, I have never grown it so know nothing about it. I do know that the more space you allow between plants the bigger the plants will grow and the more they will produce. I have a freezer full of frozen okra, gave away tons and still had okra coming on when I pulled my plants in the late fall, I grew clemson. I had a 40 foot row and it grew more then one family could possible eat or freeze.

WOW!! A 40' row? That's awesome!!!

The seed you saved should keep for another year, so if you wanted to try one of the other kinds...you could just grow the clemson the next year and save seed this year from the new kind. I have tons of seed for the clemson and save seed every year from it...so I always have plenty of it to share if you need some.

I grew some of the cajan red last year.I loved it.I'm going to just grow it around the flowers this year.I did have wasp problems near end of season,but it was dry also.They'd hang out on the okra.hard to pick that way.

Thanks!! The pod I saved has more than enough seeds, so perhaps I can keep some for '08 too. I really want to see the burgundy! I have to look in my seed catalog, because I dont remember it being called Cajun Red. Maybe there's another variety out there!

I've never had okra before. What does it taste like and how do you prepare/eat it?

John,

Okra can be scary , because I has this really unique slimy gooey "juice". It is also full of edible seeds. The closest vegetable I could compare it to is asparagus. It is the famous ingredient in Southern Gumbo. I just serve it simmered in water. My 2 year old LOVES it! It is very very good for you too. It's really neat how it grows. First of all, it's related to hibiscus, so the flowers are beautiful. What surprised me is that the pods grow straight up!

I highly recommend it!

I only way I like okra is sliced and rolled in flour/cornmeal mix and fried...it needs to be fried until it is almost burnt....It is not slimy when fried enough, as far as taste...I think it has a taste of its own.

Harvesting is a breeze also, I cut the pods...and place whole pods unwashed into a freezer bag and place in the freezer, when I want to fry some, I take out a handful or two and place in a colander and run a little water over it, not enough to thaw it out. I take one pod at a time run a little more water over it and slice it while semi frozen...not slimy, rinse one more time drain and roll in flour and fry.

To save seeds...You allow a pod on the plant to ripen...grow as large as it wants and leave it until the pod is starting to dry a little and is splitting down the sides, you then open the pods and the seeds just roll out...I leave these seeds on a paper plate to dry for a few days and the seed will shrink up when dry enough then store in a closed container or bag in a dry place.

When you want to plant okra seed you should soak your seed in warm water either over night or at least for a few hours to help with germination.

You should thin your okra so that your plants or 10-12" apart. Okra will keep producing as long as you keep it picked until late fall.

Here's a pic of one of my okra flowers last summer!

When I pick it I use 'Plastic Sleeves' I have some with elastic on the ends. otherwise wear a long sleeve shirt. Okra will have you itching for days!!!

I never had that experience with the Clemson Spineless. But I was only picking a handful every few days! My mind is still trying to grasp a 40' row of anything!

My orka grows more like trees. Some of the plants get 12 feet tall. I normally have to dig the plants up at the end of the year.

I don't eat it, but the wife loves it. I add it to gombo and I did pickle some year.

Cool!! I have 2 jars of hot okra pickles I made.....not sure if I will ever eat them, because they are sooo pretty, with a couple red cayennes and garlic in there!

I have never thought about plastic sleeves, But I do always wear a long sleeve shirt when cutting okra...I would also wear gloves, but is hard to cut the okra off the stems with them on for me...So If there is alot to pick, the tops of my hands get beet red and itchy.

The Plastic Sleeves are something I brought home from work, not sure where they got them from.

I use a pair of garden shears on mine, Orka is something that has to picked everyday. Once they get over about 4" long they tend to get woody.

My favorite way of fixing okra is with tomatoes and onions. The way my Mother has my whole life. Then fried is next. I also like pickled okra.
It is something that has never caused me to itch and I wear nothing and just use a sharp pocket knife to cut it off with. And that kinda surprises me as I'm allergic to most things. Yes it needs to be picked at least every two days. I can't imagine a garden without it. Kinda like no tomatoes in a garden. Jay

LOL I just noticed that all of you are from the So uth....except for John in CT, who has never had okra! Seriously, noone that I know would think to grow it here. On some of my baby boards, when people ask for advice on veggies their toddlers will eat, I always suggest okra, and the usual reply is " EW! GROSS!"

Well, after all this, I think Ive decided to stick with my Clemson spineless from last year's plants seeds.

Orka was brought to this country with the slaves from Africa, it grows better with a lot of heat. That is why it is much more common in the south.

Mine grows better from July on.

Now if only somebody would develop a version of Rhubarb that will grow in the south......

If you will add a little vinegar to the water in which you boil your okra it will not be Slimy!

Amigatec,
I agree. I don't plant here till the days start nearing 90. Then it really grows when it hits 100 and everything else stops. Definately a heat lover. And when the temps. get cool mine usually grinds to a halt. Clemsom spineless is my favorite after trying several of the other varieties. Jay

We had fried okra for dinner tonight. Why can't we plant seeds if they cross pollinate? I always plant more than one type in the same garden but I've never saved the seeds. Won't they grow?

I guess if you would save the seeds, they wouldnt grow true to the original plants because of the cross pollination.

might be a good project. As long as they taste good.....

Hey Pat there is a type of rhubarb that grows from seed to harvest the same year and grows well here in Arkansas, I'll do some checking and find the name of it for you.

Here's the name and a few places that have the seed:
Glaskin"s Perpetual Rhubarb

Bountiful Gardens
Territorial seed
Heirloom Acres Seed

I will have to try it.

So you plant these from seed every year?

Yes you do...and you can save seed from year to year.

I got my seeds in, so I am going to try it this year.

Be sure to report how well it does Pat!!!

No Problem!!

Hey, great! I'm gonna order some of these rhubarb seeds and try it out too! I love to cook it and then mix in fresh strawberries and a little sugar and vanilla.