Heirloom Okra

June 3, 2010
Stephanie Fleming
Annual Plants, Edibles
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NEW THIS YEAR! Limited quantities of heirloom okra in 2-inch pots will be available starting Friday, June 4, 2010, only at the Behnke’s location in Beltsville.

Okra thrives in warm to hot weather and thoroughly warmed soil, and these cultivars are ready to grow in your garden.

Okra pods can be prepared in many ways, from grilling to pickling. The plants are decorative and have beautiful hibiscus-like flowers.

The heirloom okra cultivars include ‘Clemson Spineless,’ a great all-purpose cultivar; ‘Silver Queen,’ great baked or grilled; and ‘Tokyo Gokaku,’ for curry dishes, tempura, and stir-fry.

These heirloom okra cultivars are open-pollinated and are excellent for seed saving.

By Elizabeth Olson, CPH

Stephanie Fleming

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.