Okra question

Will okra transplant OK if started in pots like broccoli, cauliflower, etc?

Frank

Okra is sensitive to transplanting and best started in ground. It also has a preference to hot weather before germinating. A friend soaks his seed in bleach water before planting. I use plain water and soak overnight.

Thanks, podster.

BYW, I grew up in Lufkin. Do you live in the piney woods?


Frank

If you use paper pots that can go right into the ground, okra will transplant with minimal complaining. If you have a climate where the ground is warm, just direct seed. They usually catch up o the transplanted ones pretty quick.

I soak overnight too, but in just plain water.

I'm almost as far east of Lufkin as you can get, near Toledo Bend. How's that for pineywoods... LOL
And I used to live in Tempe and have been to the Tonto Basin ~ beautiful area!

Having lived here, I see why you like Okra. How do you like to prepare it?

Slice the okra thin, coat with beaten egg (thin coat - more okra rather than less), toss in salted white cornmeal 'til each slice thoroughly covered and "dry". Separate from all loose cornmeal, fry at 375 deg in fry crock in enough peanut oil, canola oil, or olive oil to cover the okra. Each oil gives a slight difference in taste. Put on paper towel to absorb extra oil. After about 30 sec take off paper so okra stays crisp.

My great-grandparents lived over your way in Rosevine I think it was called.

Frank

That's a great recipe!

I nibble the two day old pods straight off the plant.

Want to hear something funny? The garden center here had okra plants for sale, one plant in a 1 gallon pot! hahaha, I didn't check the price.

Mm

Mmmm ~ good! The old tried and true. I like it just about anyway you fix it from pickled to fried to stewed. Didn't grow up eating it but am never shy about trying different foods.

Molamola ~ I haven't tried it fresh from the plant but read somewhere on DG about dried Okra ~ thin sliced and crunchy. Sounded tasty!

Yes, Rosevine is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Molamola,

I'm trying to imagine that okra plant in a one-gallon pot. Do you think they planted it from seed straight into that pot or transplanted it there?

Okra is great pickled!!

Karen

It was about two feet tall and spindly, grown with little sunshine, I suspect. Haha, five dollars for one scrawny okra plant! It-they-- there were several pots of them, were probably direct sown. Kept on the dry side, and it's 75 at night here, so root rot must not have been a problem.

Doesn't sound as if they had many takers -- can't imagine why - LOL. Okra is so easy from seeds, just need the weather to be warm enough.

Karen

I nibble young okra raw & fresh from the plant.

Dredge in buttermilk then flour.....fry em up in canola yummmmmmmmmmy!! Had a moldy chalk on mine and they are just starting up again...first try and had 3 pods enough for a family of 4 to have a snack ready for more!!

Ecopepper ~ is your Okra still delivering? Ours is dead from drought ~ no frost yet.