The Main Plant entry for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

I've grown a couple different varieties of Okra. They were problem free, high yielding, and grew well in my zone 7 garden. Pods grow fast, so remember to harvest often. Okra freezes very well. Slice into rounds and freeze loosely, bag them; used later in soup they add a slight thickness to the broth. If your knife doesn't slice easily, the pod is woody and not useable. Some types stay tender longer, so the knife test works better than judging by size.

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The beautiful, hibiscus-like blooms on an okra plant stay open for one day. Okra is an annual in more temperate climates, as the plant can not survive cold winters.

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"Okra, known in many English-speaking countries as lady's fingers, bhindi or gumbo, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.

Okra is a popular health food due to its high fiber, vitamin C, and folate content. Okra is also known for being high in antioxidants. Okra is also a good source of calcium and potassium.

The most common disease afflicting the okra plant is verticillium wilt, often causing a yellowing and wilting of the leaves. Other diseases include powdery mildew in dry tropical regions, leaf spots, and root-knot nematodes."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O...

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