Advice for a newbie needing to grow as a food source?

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MelissahL Hempstead, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 08, 2011

Thank you all. While my harvest is not big yet, we have been enjoying crook neck squash and zucchini and a few tomatoes. As well, I have some gigantic okra. Not sure when they are ready to pick.

I thought I had planted my starter plants far enough a part, but I forgot to take into consideration the melons. Geez, they are everywhere and thriving!

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 08, 2011

Most okra should be picked small, no more than 4 inches, and I pick at about 3 inches. They get tough after that. There are some varieties that claim to stay tender at larger sizes, and I grew one very slender kind that did, but most are too tough by then.

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postmandug Bardstown, KY(Zone 6a) Jun 08, 2011

S FL Commercial, if you notice the OP has been a subscriber since March 2008.....

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MelissahL Hempstead, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 08, 2011

Thanks catmad. It's past time to pick some of them.

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 08, 2011

*G*. If you can't stick a fingernail into them, don't even try to eat them. I tried cooking some long and slow, but they still couldn;t be chewed...

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Jun 08, 2011

Cowhorns.....can grow up to around 11"and remain tender.

I was "gifted" with a 5-gallon bucket to clean last summer. Blanched and froze them for the whole year.

They were fantastic! And, a blessing, since I wasn't going to get to pick an okra before it got that long anyway!

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 09, 2011

Maybe that's what they were. I found whatever the variety okay up to maybe 6-7 inches, but after that they began to get tough. It may also be a matter of personal preference, I guess, I may be overly sensitive to chewing *G*.

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OutlawHeart81 Albany, NY(Zone 5a) Jun 09, 2011

LOL. Overly sensitive to chewing? I have a thing about textures personally...the word tapioca makes me ill. I order bubble tea- no bubbles. LOL same for rice pudding, and runny eggs. Yeesh....
Back on track now, I'd like to say all you zone 8 Eaters can stop rubbing it in now! LOL. I'm just content to keep watering seedlings. :)

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bellieg Virginia Beach, VA Jun 09, 2011

No amount of cooking will make an overgrown okra tender!!! Pick them young. Love them!!1 Bellie

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Jun 09, 2011

Belle's got a point about certain okras that just refuse to tenderize!

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 11, 2011

donna421, we've wandered kind of far afield, have you had any luck with your project?

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