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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: daisymay on February 27, 2007, 14:50:37
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Hi,
many moons ago a group of us talked about growing okra this year. Has every one else started yet too, or am I ridiculously keen as usual?
Packet said Jan - March for sowing, with a germination time of 7 - 14 days. I planted 6 seeds and all 6 germinated in 6 days! :)
I put them all in one big pot with a shower cap over to act as a propogator and put them on a sunny window ledge.
Wish I could say the same for the peppers I planted at the same time, not a sign of life as yet. ???
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Hi Daisymay
My okra germinated also very quickly: 16 out of 16 in a week!
I put them in a transparant plastic container with a lid (it came with grapes in it), kept it humid and on a window sill. They are now two weeks old and about 5 cm tall.
Next week I will put them in separate pots. Hopefully they will not be too leggy before planting them out in May (perhaps sooner with this ridiculously warm winter).
Germination of my sweet peppers is as slow as the okra was quick. Sowed them on the same day, and got now six small seedlings. Out of 4 x 14 seeds. Put some extra in.
My chillis however are doing great: 4 seedlings out of 4 seeds in two weeks! Same day, same place, same protection, same medium. ???
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I have sown some-`Pure Luck` from Suffolk Herbs and an unknown variety kindly sent by a member here.
I`m hanging back for bets on who gets a decent crop
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I planted a few back in January, all doing well!
Okra Mammoth
Okra Cow Horn
Okra Clemson Spinless
Okra Silver Queen
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I didn't know there were loads of varieties.
I haven't got around to sowing many seeds yet.
But I am going to grow Okra, I love them. :D
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I have just plated one called Bowling Red, I have never had to grow it before,always had a friend that supplid me so know nothing at all about it except this ones grows as tall as runner beans I believe(not sure) Help would be appreciated XX Jeannine
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WOW!! As tall as runner beans! If you fancy swapping some seeds Jeannine let me know!! I´m an okra fan, my OH loves them but I´m not overly keen, but the plants are stunnng! Sown the above but the only one I grew last year was mammoth, great plant, took ages to get going, but when it did the flowers were beautiful and the harvest was great!! So instead of one variety it´s 4 this year!!!!
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Good luck Daisymay, You planted them earlier enough, they need a long growing season but I´m sure you´ll be ok, just you wait till they start flowering!!
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Hi Biscombe you are welcome to a few seeds, I did say I am not sure about the height thing so if you want to tap the name on the web and have a read first if they are what you want I will get them to you...but please will you explain to me how the dickens to grow them once they sprout. XX Jeannine
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Sorry, I got the seeds from RARESEEDS.com ) Baker creek) they say,7-8' tall,deep red stems,great tasting pods,tender long and thin. XX Jeannine
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Sounds great! out of the varieties I´m growing none of them are red. What would you like in return? Is there anything you are short of?
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No, I will grab you later if you mention anything I feel I cant live without is that OK XX Jeannine
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Wondeful Jeannine! But please don´t forget I owe you a return swap!
PS anyone out there want some of my save okra mammoth? Got loads and would like to share..........
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So looks like the race is on then. I thought I was being keen, but some of you are way ahead of me!
can't wait for the flowers now - I had no idea they were going to be so spectacular.
Ours are Clemson Spineless too
(no news on the peppers - no sign of life at all!)
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I`ll cook a gumbo for anyone who gets a decent crop :)-and I can cook a bit-(terms and conditions apply,subject to status)
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Can Okra be transplanted outdoors once frost has passed or does it need to be in a greenhouse? I would be interested to hear where you have all grown yours.
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Checked this am in the airing cupboard and my okra is just breaking the surface,and only planted last Sunday.1st, Lesson I have learned, Hard to germinate...NOT.
? Do I grow 2 plants like I might with a pepper or 20 like I would with a runner bean, how many okra does one plant give???? Help
XX Jeannine
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I had 5 plants last year and couldn´t pick em fast enough, over a long period too!! My advice is pick em very young!
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Hi Biscombe
Did you grow them in a greenhouse?
I grew mine outdoors without protection. An despite the heatwave, my 5 plants produced about 8 fruits. ???
Where did I go wrong?
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Living in Spain has advantages!! started them very early :) I would be tempted to stick em in the greenhouse, then plant em out mid summer
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Now I know what I'm doing wrong!
But the heatwave in the Netherlands made the temperatures rise to an average of 37C, just a little lower during the nights. Spain will have comparable temperatures.
Is the difference in the number of really warm days during the growing period?
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Here a pic of my okra (peppers at the back) enjoying some time outside the greenhouse!!
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g220/Biscombe/Okrapeppers2.jpg)
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I demand a level playing field ;D Who ever can grow okra well in the UK wins me to cook them(terms and conditions apply)
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Hi all,
just been on web to research 'Okra' found Plants of Distinction at
http://www.podseeds.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Okra_253.html
Red Burgundy @ £1.50 for 100 seeds
and
Star of David @ £1.45 for 100 seeds
my question for you guys .... how do you cook Okra and what does it taste like
thanks
Mikey
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In curry It´s delicious!! when you pick it young you can eat it raw on salads
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Well I sure can't cope with Spain but I will have a ruddy good go at growing a few. Do I prune etc,is the warmth needed about the same as peppers,I truly have not got a clue XX Jeannine
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Yep! they okra like to be warm, they dont need pruning, the leaves are sparse really...........
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think I spoke too soon. Mine have their first leaves and were looking good, but have started to go a bit yellow and sickly looking. No sign of second leaves. I had removed the lid of the propogator (well, actually the shower cap, but that sounded better!) was I too keen?
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Keep on asking questions , I am sharing your answers,I am a week behind you and learning as they grow on this one. Good Luck XX Jeannine
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This is my second year of growing okra and have found that sometimes the first leaves can look a bit sorry for themselves! hang in there Daisy!
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What does it taste like? You're joking? More a mouth feel?
Sophie Grigson has an anti-slime method.
But yes - in curries is where they belong. Or, of course, for them over there, Succotash or Gumbo?
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What does it taste like? You're joking? More a mouth feel?
Sophie Grigson has an anti-slime method.
Tim -what would be an oyster without it`s `slime`? I think okra is one of those things one cannot be neutral about-shame I can neither get decent ones here nor grow them properly
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These things are growing like weeds,I will have to pot them on in a much quicker than I anticipated,is this normal? XX Jeannine
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So come on then, progress report. Here are mine before potting on today. Star of David is the variety. I shall be keeping them in the greenhouse. Fourteen plants in all.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/okra_seedlings.jpg)
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Well mine were a couple of leaves further on than yours then they stopped, about a month ago just stopped , nothing during April, no growth at all, today I noticed they seemed to have started again. Mine are red and the type that grow 8 feet so I am not holding my breath here, but they seem to be moving again . Yours look very healthy. I am told that they do suddenly stop and often just croak so it will be interesting to see how we all get on. Growing from seed is a first for me thoughXX Jeannine
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For those old enough to remember Captain Pugwash---"Tom the cabin boy smiled and said nothing"
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Looks like I am bowing out for this year-three got to about 6inches before pegging out and the fourth is very sulky :(
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I got 5 to a reasonable size.... decided to risk 3 in the greenhouse, they are still going but are sulking and not really doing much, starting to look a bit sorry this week as the weather has changed.
The 2 still inside are probably about 2 sets of leaves on from EJ's... but have not done anything now for about a month either..... not sure what I am meant to do? Should I perhaps feed them or something radical like that??
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Well I had eight, I have now got six,but they didn't die, I snapped the stems when transplanting them. They look very healthy but seem to have stopped again,they are about 10 inches tall. They are in my melon house in grow bags, potted on finally on Sunday. Watch this space!!! I guess it is about now that they croak. XX Jeannine
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now I was starting to regret not joining in, then I read this
Looks like I am bowing out for this year-three got to about 6inches before pegging out and the fourth is very sulky :(
and I have a nice big smile on my face again, knowing it's a HOPELESS cause !!!! Do adore them though. If anyone manages to get them to flower please post a picture - mine was in bud for months and then suddenly no flower ::)
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mc55-it can be done-the flowers are to die for and I have even had the odd few okra-but not this year.-Was it Sisyphus who shoved a stone up a hill only to have it roll down again?
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Cleo I haven't forgot the offer you made if anyone managed to grow it..cooked by you personally I believe XX Jeannine
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Jeaninne-a Gentleman is only as good as his word-you grow a decent crop and my kitchen and the resident cheff are yours.
Must go now as I only came up to shut down while Jen finishes the stew I turned neck of lamb into something special ;D
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i'd love to grow okra
any ideas wher i can get some seed
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This is so interesting, my friend Arthur gave me a packet of okra today and said "try these"... I have only ever eaten them in curries but will give anything a try. Anyway, got back in the house and noticed the expiry date on the seeds was 1998!! Have planted some in pots but not holding out much hope, will nurse them tenderly and see what happens.
Arthur has a big cardboard box with seeds going back years... every now and then he takes something new out, and it grows... well, some of them do... he still has some seed mix he used for fishing 30 years ago... I told him there's no chance they will grow... but I reckon he is going to try some in a pot... or is that pot in a pot... on the packet is says "hemp mix"! Oooer missus! Mind you, he is 88, so if he gets it to grow, think he will get away with it!
Lin
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I got 5 to a reasonable size.... decided to risk 3 in the greenhouse, they are still going but are sulking and not really doing much, starting to look a bit sorry this week as the weather has changed.
Update.... the 3 in the greenhouse went to the big compost bin in the sky yesterday! 2 inside are doing OK still... slow but still alive, might even have what could be a flower coming??!!
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That`s brilliant ;D-the flowers really are something to see.
Lin-hemp seed was/is? a classic fishing bait so I think Arthur might get away with it ;). It could be worse-I seldom go fishing now but a couple of years back I got my stuff out again only to find a piece of blue cheese that had been around for longer than is reasonable
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Don't give up on the old seeds, I do know Okra should to be fresh seed like parsnips but most seeds will germinate ok if fairly old, I germinated some 1988 squash this year andwas amazed that \i got more than 50%. XX Jeannine
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Don't dust off your best curry recipe just yet Cleo...... but my 2 plants are still growing.. one of them is even trying to grow a new leaf!
They are now in the greenhouse. I potted them on a few weeks ago and their roots were pretty unimpressive but they are hanging on in there....
How is everyone else doing?
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Hey Daisy, well done you.I am still there with you darlin' .
Mine have picked up again, don't get me wrong they are not real big but they have a funny little thingy on them. It looks like a tiny pointed pepper about 3/4inch long, Can't be an Okra they are too small and we haven't seen a flower but it is there, and they are awake again.It might just be a leaf.
I still have the six so apart from the two that I broke I haven't actually lost one since I sowed them. Oh don't be boasting now, you will feel even dafter when they pop off.
The back up lot planted weeks later have three leaves now , I am not holding my breath but they aint croaked yet.
Cleo, you have 2 very determined folks here.
Of course we could both feel very embarrassed any day now and Cleo will be putting his pan away.
Come on,where is everyone else!!!!!
XX Jeannine
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I've also got three (very) little okra plants and the leaves have turned white! Anyone else experienced this?
:)
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they are not real big but they have a funny little thingy on them. It looks like a tiny pointed pepper about 3/4inch long,
Yep.. got that too was not sure how to explain it.. has been there for about 2 months now!
Sally - sorry to bear bad news but a couple of mine turned white before they went to the big compost bin in the sky..
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Oh Sally it's like being in a ruddy obstacle race, silly things!!
Don't chuck em though maybe it is the way they go, mine looked a bit pale at one point but not white.
Can you bring them inside and warm them up a bit.
Hang in there.
Daisy, I hope someone can tell us what thsi thingy is.
XX Jeannine
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My 3 are only 8 inches tall, do not look too dead each has one of those bud things so all in all
I think Cleo can sleep easy. Okra a la sauce moneymaker will have to wait.
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Oh come on now, they aint dead,they may have spurt and grow overnight,lets stay positive here gals, we have a challenge from Cleo, no dissention in the ranks.
Are there only 4 of us left!!!
and no pearls of wisdom from Cleo re these updates yet.
By the way Cleo, I owe you some tomato seeds, you left Barnsdale before I had a chance to get a real chat.
XX Jeannine
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Yes Jeannine, there are only four of you left. :'(
Last week I discovered that the slugs (I think) have found my okra. They were not doing well and the slugs just gave them their mercy nibble.
It's too late to pop in some new seeds, ísn't it?
The four of you keep up the good work and enjoy the flowers.
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I really don't know if it too late, I would think so, I got so fed up when I thought my first lot had had it I sowed what was left of the packet ,now I have another big batch,there was only 1 didn't germinate in a full propgating tray ,I will post you some if you think they may make it. let me know, can't hurt, well not us anyway LOL
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I have just found this thread and am willing to contribute any okra that my one little plant might produce to the Cleo kitchen challenge.
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Well I am down to 3 plants. Why do they just stop dead? My aubergines are looking better this year than ever before.....my chillis and peppers have been in flower for weeks and my melons ::) are growing strongly. So why, oh why, are okra so hard to grow?
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Well we are 5 again. Emma they love heat, real heat , but we are soldiering on here,I have some back ups for you all if they start to pop off. XX Jeannine
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I`m still watching-now the rules are a decent crop-not just two or three fruit :) And my word is my bond anyone getting a good crop can have them cooked by me at Cleo Towers
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Define decent
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More than 6 fruit on any plant?-my best was four.
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6!!! Oh dear...... considering mine only have 2 leaves at the minute (one has a third coming) .... are we allowed to pool our efforts??
could be the world's most expensive curry with all the miles we will have to do to gather 6 okra.... wonder what the carbon footprint would be too? ;D
Shall not give in though! :P
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That just makes me determined dum diddy diddi diddy dum.XX Jeannine
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Next year I am going to try again but sow them much later-like mid May in the hope that they do not get a check.
Iused to be in touch with a lady in Belgium who reckoned she could grow them outside-but she vanished before I ever got any seeds from her-I don`t think she was winding me up as she was a very reliable poster on a site now semi defunct
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Cleo, you are right. I have read a lot lately about Okra and it bears out what you are saying,it hates cold, hates being transplanted so I think planting it later might be the answer,much like corn.
I think we should set a date,all the use the same variety and see collectively what we can do next year.
'orrible things.
XX Jeannine
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I like the idea of an okra gathering! Heehee! ;D But yeah, bad for the ol' enviro....
Oh Sally it's like being in a ruddy obstacle race, silly things!!
Don't chuck em though maybe it is the way they go, mine looked a bit pale at one point but not white.
Can you bring them inside and warm them up a bit.
Hang in there.
Daisy, I hope someone can tell us what thsi thingy is.
XX Jeannine
Bit of good news RE my ickle plants - they are already inside, so warmth is not reason for the white colour, BUT they were slightly obscured from the sun by an unruly aubergine leaf. This is now moved and after about a week, the leaves are turning back green again! Woohoo! Will try to post a pic cos it looks pretty cool!
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Oh good, back in the race, hang on, one of us will make it !! XX Jeannine
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Mine are still doing diddly squat. I reakon that next year we have an Okra challenge. Bit like Monty does on Gardeners World.....decide a date and all sow on the same weekend then we all post the details like pot sizes, compost used, progress and so on. We must be able to master growing these, surely!?!?
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Not quite dead yet! re next year I have a generous pkt of mammoth okra from lovely Biscome (40'ish) seeds that is, so apart from our beloved fave okra seed, might these be an idea as a control seed?
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I think we should do it too. I am going to do a bit of research and try to find which ones are known for naughtiness and the opposite, I will post the findings when I can, I am already looking forward to this. I will decide on the the variety for myself later.May well be your one though.!!
Having said that, I have a flower on my others, small but just starting to open.
Amazing really, they are sitting there warm as toast in a greenhouse with floods all round them.
XX Jeannine.
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there is an article in July's Gardeners World about how hard okra are to grow so we shouldn't beat ourselves up too much.
One of mine has developed something itchy and scratchy over the weekend, looking decidely unpleasant :-[, the other one is still threatening to flower! ;D
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Well I now have a list of 40 odd okra, all with different maturity dates and from what I am reading we are growing the ones that are common to find ,not the ones that are better for cooler areas.Some take as many as 80 days and some as few as 45, that makes a difference just like tomatoes.
I feel a bit more educated now and fairly confident as to what I am looking for next year.
Still going to spend a while making up my mind but I think I know where I am going now.
XX Jeannine
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You realise Jeannine, that once you have accumulated all the information, digested it, studied and learnt it, you are going to have to pass it all on, in easy to read and understand English, to us! ;D ;D You are to become our Okra Scholar, to train us in the ways of growing this most difficult of fruits. Then next year, when we have more Okra than we can shake an old ladies finger at, the gorgeous Cleo will have no choice than to prepare us all a grastranomic delight for us Okra growers to relish.
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The most delightful okra dish I ever prepared was for our 10th wedding anniversary (couldn't afford to eat out - times were 'ard).
Lightly boiled okra, then pan fried in butter with mushrooms, a trace of chilli and black pepper, then topped off with cream.
Rich, but worthy of the occasion.
We also had steak teryaki, and pan roasted potatoes as per Elizabeth David. Plus other courses, including black cherry and brandy crepes.
I still remember that meal.
Derek :)
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No problem Emma Jane, I can do that XX Jeannine
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Anymore okra updates? I've been out of the A4A loop for a while since they restricted internet access at work >:( >:( Just trying to catch up with the 34 pages of unread messages!
ANyway, my okra are still 'okay' quite small but new leaves have sprouted (that's one new leaf on each plant, not plural leaves on each!!) and at least they are green this time! Still not very tall though, about 8 inches maybe.
:)
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One! I have one left, and although it looks okay, it is tiddly! >:(
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Sorry folks, eating mine (only one every 2 days though) got 4 plants, but plants are smaller than last year. Anyone growing Mammoth? A great link here for all you okra fans
http://www.physiology.wisc.edu/ravi/okra/
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Not quite time for Last Rights, but nearly!
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Photo Biscome!
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Coming up!! ;D
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Mine are still OK, they are in the flooded greenhouse but we had lifted them up onto a bench so they were saved, they have gone on strike again though,in fact the second lot have caught them up.
At one point I thought they were going to be the only thing that survived the flood.
Oh this is so funny.
Rosie, you just stop teasing us and show us your SPANISH GROWN okra.
XX Jeannine
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Ok sorry to tease but you all asked for it!! Varieties-Cow horn, Mammoth, Clemson Spinless
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g220/Biscombe/OkraCloseUp117.07.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g220/Biscombe/Okra117.07.jpg)
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Tut, you can go right of people you know.
;)
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Add one more to the list of Okra growers ! :D
Two plants of two varieties still surviving up here in Leeds - "Pure Luck" and "Burgundy Red" sown in March.
The Red ones are doing best - despite suffering an aphid attack despite being kept on a closed windowsill ???
Now they're in a crate full of compost in the "green tent" slowly getting hidden by cucumber plants.
One more set of fingers crossed for us all though :-X
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Oh goodie, I am still in.
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Mine are very feint! the longest death scene ever .Swan lake, eat your heart out
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I`m a sporting Gent and my word is my bond-a decent crop and my wok and my limited culinary skills are yours.
But if anyone who just might live outside the UK had a good crop and sponsored a taste trial I`m sure we could bend the rules just once?
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Cleo I think if the winner comes from out of the UK, all competitors should be able to visit and see for themselves. So Biscombe, WHEN would you like us all as you look a likely candidate!!!
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I agree, an Okra committee meeting going to assess the quality of the crop. ;D My one is still hanging on, as we are on leaft 5 now. Altogether now....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Si,por favor!
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Went to Ryton organic gardens yesterday and guess what ,I took heart- their okra are as pants as mine!
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I never said my challenge was easy ;D Joking aside it`s something to try if one has the space but quite honestly I can think of more rewarding plants to grow unless one has acres of glass house space.
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Right there!! Stuning plants but mine are sooooooo much slower than last year, I sowed the seeds around Christmas time too!!!
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Mine all died when I planted them outside. :(
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Well, the film that comes to mind'They shoot horses dont they?'
I am out.
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my two plants keeled over... I hadn't noticed, bit too busy being 9 months pregnant at the moment - can barely get though the greenhouse door! BUT... they have actually started shooting again from below the point they keeled over (if that makes any sense) so may not be out of the game yet... totally anyway!
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I have actually got 2 okras..6 inches long and 4 more almost ready..da da da da da. Oh the pressure,going through labour was less stressful!!
XX Jeannine
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And you think I do not watch like a hawk?-six inches is a bit long,probably going tough by now. I never said I play fair xxxx
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BUT if its a variety called mammoth okra you may get away with it!
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Well mine gave up the ghost whilst we were on our hols. There is always 2008. :-\
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It is mammoth, I will get some pictures tomorrow XX