When Should You Harvest Okra

January 31, 2024 Post a Comment

When should you harvest okra

One of the main tips that okra enthusiasts will share with new okra growers is when to harvest okra. The pods should be harvested when they are 2-3 inches in length. Bigger than this and you will find that the pods are woody and not as tender as they could be.

Does okra come back every year?

Does okra come back the next year? Okra is a tropical plant that is typically grown as an annual. In some areas, however, okra can be a perennial. If you live in an area where the winters are mild, you may be able to grow okra year-round.

How long will okra keep after picking?

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.

What time of year is okra harvested?

Pods are ready for harvest about 60 days after sowing. Okra, sometimes called gumbo, is a summer and fall crop. Okra flowers bloom for just one day and pods are ready for picking two or three days later.

How do you know if okra is too ripe?

Picking okra is simple, just test the larger pods by cutting them open with a sharp knife. If they are too difficult to cut, they are too old and should be removed as they will rob the plant of the nutrients it needs to produce new pods.

Will okra regrow after cutting?

In this case, many people prune in late summer by cutting back about one-third of the plants' tops. Buds along the main stem then grow and produce a late crop. Okra is a "cut-and-come-again" vegetable. Keep cutting the pods every day or two, and they will keep on coming.

Is July too late to plant okra?

Okra can be seeded into the garden as late as July and still produce a good late-summer crop. Soaking okra seeds in hot water overnight can help speed the germination process, but it is not critical.

Can you cook okra that is too big?

Slowly cook your overlarge okra into a gumbo or stew to soften their pod structure. The key here is to cut the okra into bite-size pieces, so the fruit (yes, okra technically is a fruit) is tender.

Will okra produce all summer?

Harvest Time If you pick ever other day and keep on top of them, your pods should keep blooming and produce tasty pods all summer long. And if you have planted open pollination varieties, remember allow a few to grow to maturity to save their seeds for next year's planting. Get more details on okra harvesting here.

Do you wash fresh okra before freezing?

Wash the fresh okra and pat it dry to remove any excess moisture. Take a small knife and slice the okra into ½ inch rounds (Garcia suggests keeping a paper towel handy to keep your knife blade clean and dry as you go along). Spread the okra onto baking pans until you have enough to fill a large freezer bag.

Is it better to freeze okra whole or sliced?

It's usually simplest and easiest to freeze whole pods, and it's a cinch to prepare them later. To slice frozen whole okra, allow pods to thaw slightly before cutting crosswise. Many Southern cooks like to slice, bread and bake or fry okra prior to freezing.

How late is too late for okra?

For best yields, plant okra in the spring season two-to-three weeks after all danger of frost has passed, which is about late April or May for this area. For a good fall crop, plant at least three months (around the first part of August) before the first fall frost which can be as early as October 31st.

Do okra plants keep producing?

Lawn & Garden Cut back okra so the plant can reestablish itself. One planting of okra can produce both a spring crop and an even bigger fall crop if you follow a few simple guidelines. Most okra cultivars are ready to pick 55 to 60 days after planting, or about 4 to 6 days after flowering.

What can you not plant near okra?

Okra is very susceptible to nematodes, and nematode populations may boom at the end of the season. Avoid growing squash, sweet potatoes, or solanaceous crops (like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant) after okra (and vice versa), as they may be plagued by nematodes from the previous year.

How big is too big for okra?

Okra is considered suitable for eating when it is small and young, maybe two days old or so, with the pods less than 4 to 5 inches long. Age is a better indicator of edibility than length. If you leave the pods on the plant for too many days, they dry out and develop an okra woody texture.

Do you wash okra after picking?

Only wash fresh okra right before you're about to cook with it. The tender pods absorb water, which could allow mold to grow while it's being stored. Instead, wrap whole, dry okra in a paper towel and place it in a plastic bag, poking holes in the bag for air circulation.

Is okra still good if the seeds are brown?

Larger okra pods may be overmature and tough with brown seeds inside. A fresh okra pod will have white seeds hidden within it. Avoid buying okra that looks brown, shriveled, dry or decayed.

At what temperature does okra stop growing?

Okra grows well in warm, humid climates and does not tolerate temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should you trim your okra plants?

If you do not prune the plants some of the lateral stems will end up producing okra. However, pruning or whooping does make it way easier to harvest and manageable in the garden.

Should you cut leaves off okra?

Should you trim okra leaves? Once okra leaves aren't able to produce food for the plant, the plant starts to get rid of them. The leaves start to take up more energy than they produce so yes, cut off any little dying leaves near the bottom of the plant as well as any leaves that are looking weak or starting to shrivel.