Favorite Okra

AlittleSalt · December 14, 2014

I looked in the M.E. section but didn't find a place for okra, so I'll ask here.

I grow okra for 5 households/families - so I grow two 40' rows. The past 4 years, I have grown Clemson Spineless and Emerald okra with good results, but I want to try something different in 2015.

One okra type can be green variety. The other variety I want to be red/burgundy.
I'm hoping to find tender varieties that have a good strong okra taste.

Any suggestions on varieties from you would be helpful. Thanks

Fusion_power · December 14, 2014

Jing Orange was a standout producer in my garden last year. Of the green varieties I've grown, Cowhorn and Granny Franklin would be at the top. I've tried Evertender and various strains of Green Velvet but they generally don't come up to my standard.

Granny Franklin is unique as a good fried okra, also makes excellent pickled okra. I suggest it as a good general purpose variety.

DeanRIowa · December 14, 2014

Like you, I have traditionally grown Clemson Spineless and Emerald, so I am liking forward for some other recommendations.

I tried a few other varieties(Burgundy, Fife Creek, Cowhorn, Gold Coast) over the years, but had some growing issues, not okras' fault.

Dean

David Dooley · December 14, 2014

I grew Burmese a few times. Stays tender longer than most varities.

ginger2778 · December 14, 2014

I gre Jimmy T. It was very productive, tender to about a 6" pod.

ABlindHog · December 15, 2014

Hill Country Red might be of interest, short fat red pods make great fried okra and it's a Texas Hill country heirloom. I grew it for the first time this year and will definitely grow it again.

WhippoorwillG · December 16, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlindHog

Hill Country Red might be of interest, short fat red pods make great fried okra and it's a Texas Hill country heirloom. I grew it for the first time this year and will definitely grow it again.

I'll second Hill Country Red. For production, Clemson and Emerald are tough to beat, but we try to differentiate for market, and HCR has been our go-to for several seasons. Most years, it is HCR and Star of David that we grow mostly to sell, both of which are the short fat pods. Early in the season, you can get huge fat tender pods that look amazing fried and taste delicious.

If you prefer a slender pod, Stewart's Zeebest has shown itself to out-produce all other smooth slender pods we've trialed in our garden (zone 7b, Northeast Ga). The biggest issue with the SZ is that it doesn't generally hold breading when fried as well as the ridged varieties, but does possess very good flavor.

AlittleSalt · December 16, 2014

For the red variety, we are going to try Jing Orange and Hill Country Red. There is a nice picture of Jing Orange in the 2015 Baker's Creek Rare Seeds Catalog. The HCR looks interesting https://www.google.com/search?q=hill...A&ved=0CB0QsAQ

Thanks everyone.

Worth1 · December 16, 2014

Louisiana green velvet cant be beat.
it is still the best okra I have grown out of the many varieties I have tried.

Worth

Blk_Vegan · December 16, 2014

Cajun Jewel is my okra of choice. Tender, good flavored pods on compact manageable plants. Good producer as well.
http://www.southernexposure.com/caju...5-g-p-129.html

shelleybean · December 16, 2014

I like Stewart's Zeebest for the narrow, smooth pods but I like Cajun Jewel for super production on short plants. I also like White Velvet if you don't mind the light green color. It's not actually white. I always say I'm going to try Jimmy T. because it's from Hodgenville, KY and my maiden name is Hodgen, but so far I haven't gotten around to it. This coming season, it'll be Stewart's Zeebest because I already have the seeds.

bitterwort · December 17, 2014

I haven't grown a lot of varieties, but of those I've grown, Aunt Hettie's Red was the best tasting variety and the plants were tall, attractive red specimens to boot. Victory Seed used to carry it, from New Hope Seed.

b54red · December 17, 2014

Cowhorn is my favorite by far because it produces pods that are tender at far larger sizes than most other varieties. It has a very good flavor and produces vigorously. The biggest drawback is the plants need a little more room than most other varieties because they get so large with multiple producing branches that can get very very tall.

Bill

peppero · December 17, 2014

Bill have you ever tried topping them? I was wondering if they would put new growth .

jon

AlittleSalt · December 19, 2014

I wonder what okra variety is best for pickling when small? Or if red okra would keep it's red color when pickled?

December 14, 2014	#1
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Favorite Okra I looked in the M.E. section but didn't find a place for okra, so I'll ask here. I grow okra for 5 households/families - so I grow two 40' rows. The past 4 years, I have grown Clemson Spineless and Emerald okra with good results, but I want to try something different in 2015. One okra type can be green variety. The other variety I want to be red/burgundy. I'm hoping to find tender varieties that have a good strong okra taste. Any suggestions on varieties from you would be helpful. Thanks

December 16, 2014	#8
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	For the red variety, we are going to try Jing Orange and Hill Country Red. There is a nice picture of Jing Orange in the 2015 Baker's Creek Rare Seeds Catalog. The HCR looks interesting https://www.google.com/search?q=hill...A&ved=0CB0QsAQ Thanks everyone. Last edited by AlittleSalt; December 16, 2014 at 11:12 AM.

December 16, 2014	#10
Blk_Vegan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 131	Cajun Jewel is my okra of choice. Tender, good flavored pods on compact manageable plants. Good producer as well. http://www.southernexposure.com/caju...5-g-p-129.html __________________ Success in life is not guaranteed but a life with no purpose is guaranteed to fail.

December 16, 2014	#11
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I like Stewart's Zeebest for the narrow, smooth pods but I like Cajun Jewel for super production on short plants. I also like White Velvet if you don't mind the light green color. It's not actually white. I always say I'm going to try Jimmy T. because it's from Hodgenville, KY and my maiden name is Hodgen, but so far I haven't gotten around to it. This coming season, it'll be Stewart's Zeebest because I already have the seeds. __________________ Michele

December 17, 2014	#12
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 292	I haven't grown a lot of varieties, but of those I've grown, Aunt Hettie's Red was the best tasting variety and the plants were tall, attractive red specimens to boot. Victory Seed used to carry it, from New Hope Seed. __________________ Bitterwort

December 14, 2014	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Jing Orange was a standout producer in my garden last year. Of the green varieties I've grown, Cowhorn and Granny Franklin would be at the top. I've tried Evertender and various strains of Green Velvet but they generally don't come up to my standard. Granny Franklin is unique as a good fried okra, also makes excellent pickled okra. I suggest it as a good general purpose variety.

December 14, 2014	#3
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	Like you, I have traditionally grown Clemson Spineless and Emerald, so I am liking forward for some other recommendations. I tried a few other varieties(Burgundy, Fife Creek, Cowhorn, Gold Coast) over the years, but had some growing issues, not okras' fault. Dean

December 14, 2014	#4
David Dooley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Frisco tx Posts: 43	I grew Burmese a few times. Stays tender longer than most varities.

December 14, 2014	#5
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	I gre Jimmy T. It was very productive, tender to about a 6" pod.

December 15, 2014	#6
ABlindHog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: The Texas Hill Country Posts: 149	Hill Country Red might be of interest, short fat red pods make great fried okra and it's a Texas Hill country heirloom. I grew it for the first time this year and will definitely grow it again.

December 16, 2014	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Louisiana green velvet cant be beat. it is still the best okra I have grown out of the many varieties I have tried. Worth

December 17, 2014	#13
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Cowhorn is my favorite by far because it produces pods that are tender at far larger sizes than most other varieties. It has a very good flavor and produces vigorously. The biggest drawback is the plants need a little more room than most other varieties because they get so large with multiple producing branches that can get very very tall. Bill

December 17, 2014	#14
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	Bill have you ever tried topping them? I was wondering if they would put new growth . jon Last edited by peppero; December 17, 2014 at 08:00 AM.

December 19, 2014	#15
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I wonder what okra variety is best for pickling when small? Or if red okra would keep it's red color when pickled?