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Harvest the pods when they are 3 to 4 inches long. If the okra gets too large, it will be tough and stringy. Pick the okra every 1 to 2 days or yields will decrease (Fig. 3).
How do you know when okra is ready to be harvested?
Picking okra should be done when the pods are 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) long. If you leave them too long, the pods get hard and woody. Once you’re done picking okra, store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator where they will last about a week or freeze the pods if you have too much to use.
What color should okra be when picked?
Yet for okra you want small pods. The pods should be a very vibrant color, either green or purple depending on the variety you are growing. Pale pods, even if the right size, can be woody. Pods form quickly during the peak of summer and you should look to harvest every 2-3 days.
What does okra look like ripe?
Ripe okra is about 2 to 3 inches long with a vibrant color, advises the University of Illinois Extension. Okra pods are either green or purple depending on the variety. Okra is ripe and ready for harvesting approximately five days after the plant flowers, advises Michigan State University Extension.
How do you pick okra?
Look for smooth, tender, blemish-free, bright green pods. Avoid pods with brown spots or dry end. If you’re cooking it quickly, like in a sauté, use okra that’s under 4 inches long. If you’re stewing it or using it in a gumbo, look for the tougher, larger pods.
Can you eat big okra?
Cooking Giant Okra Slowly cook your overlarge okra into a gumbo or stew to soften their pod structure. You can eat it raw or cooked, stewed, grilled, pickled, or fried. Put it in soups and stews, or season it and make a snack of it.
What do you do if okra is too big?
When you find pods that are just too old or too big to really be edible, leave them alone and let them dry out. The pods should be brown and starting to open; at that point, remove them from the plant, slice them open and remove the seeds.
Why is my okra red?
It remains the most prevalent red variety. Their color comes from anthocyanins – a natural plant pigment. Red okra is sometimes called magenta or purple okra.
Can you eat okra raw?
Okra pods can even be eaten raw. The less cooked okra is, the better it is for you. It’s high in fiber, folate, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. Slice off the stem, cut the pods into 1-inch pieces and give them a quick saute to reduce the green taste.
How long can you harvest okra?
Harvesting okra The plants can produce for ten to 12 weeks. It grows and bears seed pods until frost, which quickly turns them black and kills them. Start harvesting a few days after the okra blooms fade.
How do you store okra after harvesting?
Refrigerate unwashed, dry okra pods in the vegetable crisper, loosely wrapped in perforated plastic bags. Wet pods will quickly mold and become slimy. Okra will keep for only two or three days. When ridges and tips of pods turn dark, it needs to be used immediately.
Why is my okra flowering?
Okra flowers usually bloom for less than a day before dropping off the plant, leaving behind a small green nub that will form into the okra pod and be ready to harvest in just a few days. As long as the pods are developing, the flowers have been pollinated and all is as it should be.
What should Fresh okra look like?
Fresh okra should feel firm but not hard. Look for bright green pods with unblemished skin. A little browning on the stem shouldn’t be a concern, though the greener it is, the fresher the okra.
How can you tell if okra is good?
Firm to Touch: To pick the best, you need to put in a little effort because nothing in life comes easy. Try to individually pick each okra. Press it gently with your fingers and they should be slightly firm but not hard. If they are hard, they are really old and don’t cook well.
Does okra come back every year?
When planting okra in more temperate climates, this perennial plant becomes an annual and must be replanted each year. Okra seeds can be planted in 1” deep hills that are about 18-24” apart. As they begin to grow, thin out the stragglers so the sturdier ones can thrive.
What do you do with okra stalks?
Okra stalk fiber is next – you can make cordage or crochet a hat. Okra is related to jute, kenaf, roselle, kapok and even cotton. Paper is another option. Okra paper is beautiful, strong, and you can make your own paper or twine, following Chris’s instructions.
