Climbing Okra

organichris · March 31, 2009

I recently had a conversation with a gentleman at my church who grows quite a sizable garden every year. When we were talking about okra, he said that he knew another guy in town who grew what he called "Arkansas Okree". He said it grew on a vine and that the fruits were tender even after they had grown very long. He said that he had received some seeds and they had gotten ruined by moisture and since had not been able to find any. So I told him I would get some for him if I could locate them.

After doing some research, it seems that what he is looking for is Luffa cylindrica. This is the loofah sponge plant. Apparently you can eat the gourds like squash or okra.

Has anyone grown this and eaten the fruit? Or is there another kind of climbing okra I don't know about? I'd like to help out my friend, but I'd like as much input as I can get before I go and buy some seeds for him.

Here's a link to a picture of what I think he's talking about:

http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/Hor...472208_544.jpg

Worth1 · April 1, 2009

As you may have noticed Dave's Garden has blocked this image of Climbing Okra.
You can go to this site and look for your selves if you so desire.
I am A member and it is a great site for all kinds of stuff about plants.
If you want to know if a plant will grow in your area this is a good place to go.(not excluding Tomatoville)

Okra is a member of the mallow and/or hibiscus family and I don't think there is any real thing as a true climbing okra even though I wish there was.

Worth

organichris · April 1, 2009

Wow, Dave burned me something terrible!

Dave, if you're reading this I meant no disrespect.

Polar_Lace · April 2, 2009

Are you sure they weren't growing Italian Trombone Squash

~* Robin

organichris · April 2, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polar_Lace

Are you sure they weren't growing Italian Trombone Squash

~* Robin

No, I'm not sure. But that looks like a winner. Have you tried it?

ctx00978 · April 2, 2009

This sounds like what I'll be growing this year. A guy here in town grows it and gave me a dried pod with seeds in it to try. He said it was vining okra, and stays tender even when large. I don't know what it looks like fresh (colorwise), but it's about 15-18 inches long, with a slight curve to it, is about the width of a medium/large zucchini, and has spines. I wonder if it's the same thing you're talking about?

Stacie

organichris · April 2, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctx00978

This sounds like what I'll be growing this year. A guy here in town grows it and gave me a dried pod with seeds in it to try. He said it was vining okra, and stays tender even when large. I don't know what it looks like fresh (colorwise), but it's about 15-18 inches long, with a slight curve to it, is about the width of a medium/large zucchini, and has spines. I wonder if it's the same thing you're talking about?

Stacie

The pod isn't a loofah sponge, is it?

Man, I might have to look for some of those Italian Trombone Squash seeds.

ctx00978 · April 2, 2009

You'll have to pardon my ignorance, because I've not grown this before, but I went to the picture of luffa cylindrica, and it had a smoother "shell" with grooves, while what I have definitely has raised spines on it. I'm heading out to get the kids from school right now, but when I get back, I'll pop it open to see what's inside and also see if I can't find a picture that resembles it online. I'd take a picture of this but my camera isn't loading my pictures on the computer for some reason. If this is what he's looking for, I'd be more than happy to send you some of the seeds. Be back in a bit.

Stacie

Polar_Lace · April 2, 2009

This is another Edible Luffa: Luffa acutangula
Here are other Species

Maybe these can help you out.

~* Robin

Denny1 · August 3, 2015

This is my first post here and if there is a way to some how do it wrong, I will do it. I need all the help I can get whether procedural or related to my post; so admins and members, don't be bashful--speak up!! I have been chasing this item whatever it is called forever, and happily came across a good hit in this forum, so Stacie ctx00978, your description absolutely matches what I'm looking for, particularly about staying tender at full size, the spines, size and ridges running along it's length, and not luffa cylindrica! Boy, I hope you are still around and have a handle on where I could find some seeds!!
Denny1

Ken B · August 5, 2015

We (SESE) carry what you might be looking for -- http://www.southernexposure.com/luff...-g-p-1834.html -- we call it Ridged Luffa, aka Chinese Vining Okra, aka Ridge Gourd -- our seed source was Sand Hill Preservation Center -- it's a better tasting luffa gourd (though doesn't make as good luffas as the regular luffa).

March 31, 2009	#1
organichris Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 630	Climbing Okra I recently had a conversation with a gentleman at my church who grows quite a sizable garden every year. When we were talking about okra, he said that he knew another guy in town who grew what he called "Arkansas Okree". He said it grew on a vine and that the fruits were tender even after they had grown very long. He said that he had received some seeds and they had gotten ruined by moisture and since had not been able to find any. So I told him I would get some for him if I could locate them. After doing some research, it seems that what he is looking for is Luffa cylindrica. This is the loofah sponge plant. Apparently you can eat the gourds like squash or okra. Has anyone grown this and eaten the fruit? Or is there another kind of climbing okra I don't know about? I'd like to help out my friend, but I'd like as much input as I can get before I go and buy some seeds for him. Here's a link to a picture of what I think he's talking about: http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/Hor...472208_544.jpg

April 2, 2009	#4
Polar_Lace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Z8b, Texas Posts: 657	Are you sure they weren't growing Italian Trombone Squash ~* Robin __________________ It's not how many seeds you sow. Nor how many plants you transplant. It's about how many of them can survive your treatment of them.

April 2, 2009	#9
Polar_Lace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Z8b, Texas Posts: 657	This is another Edible Luffa: Luffa acutangula Here are other Species Maybe these can help you out. ~* Robin __________________ It's not how many seeds you sow. Nor how many plants you transplant. It's about how many of them can survive your treatment of them.

August 3, 2015	#10
Denny1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Mo. Posts: 1	climbing okra This is my first post here and if there is a way to some how do it wrong, I will do it. I need all the help I can get whether procedural or related to my post; so admins and members, don't be bashful--speak up!! I have been chasing this item whatever it is called forever, and happily came across a good hit in this forum, so Stacie ctx00978, your description absolutely matches what I'm looking for, particularly about staying tender at full size, the spines, size and ridges running along it's length, and not luffa cylindrica! Boy, I hope you are still around and have a handle on where I could find some seeds!! Denny1

April 1, 2009	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	As you may have noticed Dave's Garden has blocked this image of Climbing Okra. You can go to this site and look for your selves if you so desire. I am A member and it is a great site for all kinds of stuff about plants. If you want to know if a plant will grow in your area this is a good place to go.(not excluding Tomatoville) Okra is a member of the mallow and/or hibiscus family and I don't think there is any real thing as a true climbing okra even though I wish there was. Worth

April 1, 2009	#3
organichris Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 630	Wow, Dave burned me something terrible! Dave, if you're reading this I meant no disrespect.

April 2, 2009	#6
ctx00978 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 82	This sounds like what I'll be growing this year. A guy here in town grows it and gave me a dried pod with seeds in it to try. He said it was vining okra, and stays tender even when large. I don't know what it looks like fresh (colorwise), but it's about 15-18 inches long, with a slight curve to it, is about the width of a medium/large zucchini, and has spines. I wonder if it's the same thing you're talking about? Stacie

August 5, 2015	#11
Ken B Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central Virginia Posts: 243	We (SESE) carry what you might be looking for -- http://www.southernexposure.com/luff...-g-p-1834.html -- we call it Ridged Luffa, aka Chinese Vining Okra, aka Ridge Gourd -- our seed source was Sand Hill Preservation Center -- it's a better tasting luffa gourd (though doesn't make as good luffas as the regular luffa).