Fun with Okra: 2018

Everything is producing and the days are full of picking lots of different fruits and veggies. We now have sweet corn, okra, tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons coming out of the field daily! I do enjoy eating some watermelon and cantaloupe, but my favorite, as avid readers might remember, is okra.

Since I had so much fun growing it last year, I decided to have double the fun this year and grow two different varieties! This year we have the same variety we planted last year called Zarah, and a new variety, for us, called Clemson Spineless. Many of you are probably familiar with Clemson Spineless. That’s the ‘standard’ variety of okra used in restaurants and grocery stores. It is so popular because of how easy it is to pick. No okra is really ‘easy’ to pick but at least Clemson Spineless is, well… spineless.

Zarah plants have spines on them which makes picking them a pain; literally sometimes. You have to wear long sleeves and gloves when picking or your hands, arms, and whatever else you touch, will become quite itchy for the rest of the day. Clemson Spineless can still make you itchy, but not nearly as much which is why it is the preferred variety. Clemson Spineless also makes larger, prettier pods which makes them look good in dishes and displays.

As with most things, the pretty ones always seem to get the most attention. I prefer Zarah both to grow and eat. No, the pods don’t look as pretty but the plants produce more than Clemson Spineless, and you will be eating fresh okra for dinner at least a week earlier! Everyone knows to stay away from large okra pods. Pick them small or they get tough and slimy right? Not with Zarah! Even pods as long as 6” are still tender and delicious. If you don’t get around to picking it for a day or two, it won’t hurt your teeth come dinner time. Plus, Zarah just down right tastes better!

But don’t take my word for it. We are picking fresh okra every day here on the farm. Take some of both varieties home and test them for yourself. We would love to hear your feedback. If you’re not into okra at all, that’s okay too! We have plenty of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, onions, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, peppers, and sweet corn available as well (and now I’m hungry…).