This publication describes the distinctive plant Okra and provides instruction for its planting, cultivation, harvesting, storage, and use

Powers, Heather

Traunfeld, Jon

Yen, Peggy

Digital Repository at the University of Maryland

For more information on this and other topics visit the University of Maryland Extension website at www.extension.umd.eduIf you are one that loves okra, you’ll surely want to grow it in your garden.  It’s a beautiful plant on its own, tall with striking yellow flowers, which will consistently yield okra pods from the height of summer until the late fall.Planting: Okra is best direct seeded in warm weather, about two weeks after the last frost.  Plant seeds ½ inch deep and 4 inches apart, in rows that are 24 inches apart.  Hard seed coat can be softened by soaking in buttermilk or weak vinegar solution for 24 hours or by scratching the seed coat with a file or rasp.  Once the plants are 4 inches tall, thin them to 12 inches between each plant.  If you live in very cold weather, okra can be started indoors and transplanted in early summer.  Once the transplant is 5 inches tall, transplant in rows 12 inches apart.Cultivation:• Fertilizing- Heavy feeder. Needs a continuoussupply of nitrogen for prolonged pod set.  Side-dress at least one time.• Watering - Okra is somewhat drought hardy, butadditional watering may be needed in very hot anddry conditions.• Weeding- Maintain a weed-free bed and apply anorganic mulch to maintain soil moisture.• Special Directions - When plants are 24 inches tall,pinch off the growing points to promote branchingto increase yields.Harvesting: After the first of the yellow flowers come and go, the plants will start producing pods to be harvested.  Harvesting may be the most difficult part of growing okra.  The pods are only good when they are young and tender, older pods will get tough and woody.  Harvest okra three times a week, continually cutting the pods at their base.  If you find pods that you previously missed, cut them off and compost them because maturing pods will slow down production.  Be sure to be harvesting the pods and not the unopened flower buds.Storage and Preservation: Because you’ll be continually harvesting okra, storage is very important.  Keep the okra pods unwashed in a paper bag in your refrigerator drawer, and make sure you are using the oldest first.  Okra will keep for up to a week if stored correctly.  It can also be frozen by washing and trimming the stems and blanching for 3 minutes the put into ice water.  Drain and spread on trays and put into a freezer.  Once frozen, transfer the okra to a freezer bag.Nutrition: Source of Vitamin C, folate, magnesium and fiberPreparation & Use:  Choose firm pods and boil, fry or pickle.  Okra is typically breaded and fried, but this is not always the most healthy way to enjoy okra.  Try stewing it with onions and tomatoes in a gumbo, served over rice. OkraGE 116 2010ArchivdThis publication is no longer circulated. It is preserved here for archival purposes. Current information is at https://extension.umd.edu/hgicFor more information on this and other topics visit the University of Maryland Extension website at www.extension.umd.edu2Do you have a plant or insect pest question?Visit us at extension.umd.edu/hgicAuthor:  Jon Traunfeld, University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Home and Garden Infor-mation Center, Vegetables & Fruits; Heather Powers and Peggy Yen, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners This publication, GE 116, is a series of publications of the University of Maryland Extension and The Home and Garden Information Center.  For more information on related publications and programs, http://extension.umd.edu/hgic.   Please visit http://extension.umd.edu/ to find out more about Extension programs in Maryland.The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orienta-tion, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.ArchivedThis publication is no longer circulated. It is preserved here for archival purposes. Current information is at https://extension.umd.edu/hgic

Okra

https://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/28134/1/GE116%20Okra_arch.pdf

Okra

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