Organic Vegetable Gardening: Growing Okra

Organic Okra Thrives in the Organic Vegetable Garden

Okra's slimy, gummy qualities make it unfavorable to many cooks except for those who specialize in southern dishes such gumbo and of course the appetizer fried okra. Growing okra in an organic vegetable garden can produce a far better yield of this plant than a non-organic garden. Supplying the right amount of organic compost in well-drained soil will help okra thrive and have a fresher taste.

A tropical plant originating in Ethiopia, okra made its way to the Nile and Middle East sometime during the 13^th century. It made its first appearance in the southern states of North America in the early 1700's being brought over by the black slave trade. Early American Indians used okra as a thickening agent for stews made of vegetables and seafood or as we know it today "gumbo." In England, a stew similar to our gumbo might be called Lady's Fingers and in the Caribbean, Kallaloo, all of which contain okra.

Although mainly used fresh, okra can be dried, ground into powder and then the powder used as a thickening agent in soups and stews, sort of like corn starch.

Ranging in size from about a two inch to eight inches, the okra pods are finger-like in shape. They are slightly curved and come to a point on one end. Okra usually has a green color ranging in shades from light to dark, but there are a few varieties that have a reddish color to them. Some varieties might have slight fuzz on them and/or ridges. Okra reminds me of milkweed pods with ridges.

Because larger sized okra tends to be woody, when cooking with okra choose the smaller, tenderer pods.

Okra seeds should be planted in the organic vegetable garden after all danger of frost has past, in well-drained soil, rich with organic compost. Sow seeds one inch deep, four to six inches apart, in rows spaced one and one-half to two feet apart. Okra does well in dry weather, but may need to be watered if dry periods extend past a week. Also, keep weeds down in your organic vegetable garden buy pulling them, spreading straw or organic mulch. Okra is a prolific plant so check often for pods during the summer growing months.