GardenDC Podcast Episode 293: In Defense of Okra

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Chris Smith*, executive director of the Utopian Seed Project, all about Okra. The plant profile is on American Elderberry and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Moonlight and Wildflowers" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Chris Smith's book The Whole Okra at https://amzn.to/4wp4sLe
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

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If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 88: Seed Swaps and Exchanges with Ira Wallace

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-88-seed-swaps.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 68: Summer Vegetables

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 277: Revolutionary Tomato Growing

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-277.html

Show Notes will be posted after 7/15/2026.

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Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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*You can order Chris Smith's book The Whole Okra at https://amzn.to/4wp4sLe
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

but it wil not impact your purchase price.

Fenton Friday: Flower Friday

This week was there was rain and heat -- lots of heat.

The Blackberries are being raided by some creature(s) despite the fact that I draped some plastic mesh over the shrub along with a few rubber snakes. The fruits are pretty much all stripped off -- I've only gotten a couple this week.

The Okra 'Puerto Rico Everblush' seedlings are up (see picture above) - so are the seedlings of the 'Thriller' Squash I planted this week in a hill next to them. I'm hoping that the Okra will get tall fast and the Squash can then sprawl out around the base of them. 

One of the returning Dahlia plants is already blooming (see picture at right) and the others are setting bids.

We still need to get the Pole Beans in as well as some Cucumbers or Zucchini. I may pull the Garlic soon to make room for those. I think after all these good rains will be a good time to do so.

In the pollinator strip, the Nasturtium seeds are being slow to germinate, but the Zinnia seeds are all up. I also promised to share a picture and identify the blue-blooming plants that came from a Wildflower Mix we started in the spring. Pictured at right here is part of the mix including Borage, Blue Flax, and the tall "airy" looking one is Phacelia --which I have never grown before. 

Next week, I plan to finally get the Lisianthus seedlings in the cutting garden and to add some rows of Cosmos seeds.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

Okra Plant Profile

Okra Plant Profile

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a fast-growing annual vegetable that loves the heat of summer. It is grown for its edible seed pods, which have a savory flavor similar to green beans. It originated in Ethiopia and was grown by the ancient Egyptians.  

Okra is a member of the Malvaceae plant family and is related to cotton, cacao, hollyhock, and hibiscus. You can see the similarity in its hibiscus-like flowers.

Okra requires full sun in soil with good drainage. Soak the okra seeds overnight and plant them after the last frost has passed in spring.

Harvest each pod with its stem attached. Cut the stem as close as possible to its base using sharp shears. Pick the small pods often and before they become big and woody. If you missed some and wonder if they are still edible, bend back the tip with your thumb. If it snaps off cleanly, they are still okay to eat.

Well-established okra plants will tolerate slightly cooler nights in early autumn, but will slow in growth and productivity. Okra plants decline soon after a light frost and should be removed from the garden in fall.

The most common Okra cultivar is ‘Clemson Spineless’, which is a green cultivar that is relatively smooth, hence the term “spineless.” There are also several recent introductions of red Okras (sometimes called magenta or purple Okra). These taste the same as the green ones, but have more anthocyanins in them giving them the distinct coloring. 

Okra: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Brandie Bland

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Fenton Friday: The Okra Gospel

There is an African proverb that says, "The okra plant doesn't grow taller than its planter." Well, it proved true this year at least, as I got a late start and didn't plant the 'Candle Fire' Okra seeds until mid-June. So, the plants are full and doing well now, producing a handful of okra pods every few days, which is just enough for me for snacking on. They are only about 4 feet tall and are gorgeous -- with big red palmate leaves and white-pink-red hibiscus flowers.

I feel like I am the okra proselytizer. Everywhere I talk about edible gardening, I have to share how easy it is to grow, how you can eat it raw, what a gorgeous plant it is, and no, it is not slimy at all - you just have to get it fresh from your own garden and prepare it correctly.

BTW, here is my Okra growing basics video: 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2013/07/video-wednesday-okra-growing-basics.html

And here is a cool craft you can make from dried okra pods: 

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2017/12/diy-okra-santa-ornament.html

Yes, I see the eyes glaze over, but I persist. I feel like just one more convert, it is worth it. It is not like I have stock on okra seeds, I just need to spread the okra joy!

Is there an unpopular edible that you just have to convince others to grow?

 About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 8th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above.

Fenton Friday: Okra-you kidding me?

So now, as summer winds down, my Okra has decided to take off. All 3 measly plants are producing at double-time. Even though I get by to grab them daily, I still have those tougher, too-big ones to pluck off. Now I'm just snacking on a few raw as I garden and the rest I'm picking and bringing home to place on a screen for drying and making holiday crafts. Anyone have any cute Okra projects? This one looks pretty darn easy.

How is your edible garden growing this week?


About Fenton Friday:
Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 4th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) 

Fenton Friday: Dig Dug Dag!

I set out today in the noon-time heat to dig up what I thought would be a handful of potatoes. These are the German Butterballs that I planted in Spring 2014 and then never bothered to dig up last year. They sent out new foliage this spring and that had died back a few weeks ago, so I figured it was time to see what was underneath the small mound of soil. I put my garden fork in and was surprised to see how many potatoes I uncovered -- lots of golden yellow orbs -- some big, some tiny. Then I dug in again and again. I put them all in a bucket and brought them home to weigh them -- 7 pounds total. Not too shabby for basically zero work on my part!

Also happening in my plot (aside from the ongoing cherry tomato explosion) is the first Okra harvest -- all two of them. I only put three plants so only expect to get a few at a time. This first harvest now kicks off what I call the keep-up-with-Okra time of year in the garden, which is simply to make sure to get over to my plot at least for a few minutes every day to pluck off the newest tender Okra before it gets too big and woody to handle. (Hey, get your minds out of the gutter!)

So how is your edible garden growing this week?

About Fenton Friday:
Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 4th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) 

Fenton Friday: Red Okra Review

This year I grew Red Okra aka Burgundy Okra from seed and it has done pretty well in this mild summer. However, I think next year I will go back to the green Clemson Spineless variety.

I eat my okra small/tender and raw; picked straight from the plant as a garden snack. To me, the red variety just does not taste as good as Clemson does. It has a slight perfume-y quality to it that I just cannot place. It is not "bad" per se, just not my favorite. The Clemson to me has more a clean "green bean" flavor.

If you grow okra, what do you think? Do you detect a taste difference?

Fenton Friday: Okra and the Potato Thieves

okra flower

This week at my plot in the Fenton Street Community Garden the late-planted okra was finally ready for picking. That means from now on I will have to stay on top of it with daily garden visits, as once the okra gets past finger-sized, it is no good.

I also noticed that something dug into my German Butterball potato hill and pulled out a few. Three were left out with nibbles on them. I'm suspected a rodent, maybe a large bird. I should dig them all up now myself as the top foliage was all died back. This should give me an incentive to get on that task.

Also, I've decided in my next life to start a Southern rock cover band and it will be called "Okra and the Potato Thieves." I think we'll hand out fried treats between sets.

okra ready to be picked

German Butterball potatoes nibbled on by what?

Also, I write a monthly column for the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Voice newspaper (now only online.) This month's column is on the local community gardens, including Fenton where I grow, and the high demand for plot spaces. Check it out here: http://tpssvoice.com/2013/07/31/growing-space-in-high-demand-at-local-community-gardens/.

Video Wednesday: Okra Growing Basics

 

A short video from our vault: Okra growing basics. Yes, you can grow that! Kathy Jentz, Editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, the publication for DC/MD/VA gardeners, shares her tips for growing and enjoying okra.