[DonDuck]

In my garden, the choppee okra doesn't get slightly tough until it is about eight inches long. I'm starting to believe I can ony totally avoid toughness by being very observant and harvesting the pods as soon as the blossom starts drying but before the dry blossom drops off the pod. After the blossom drops, the pod grows so fast; it can be six to eight inches long within the following day.


If okra taste can be defined, I believe the Cowhorn okra has a slightly better "okra" flavor than the Choppee okra. It may be only soil differences between the beds instead of a variety difference. I really prefer the Choppee texture over the Cowhorn. I'm looking forward to allowing some okra to dry on the plants for seed and for grinding into powder. I want to try using the okra powder in dishes as a thickner and okra seasoning. I want to try using it in Cajun gumbo instead of gumbo file powder. My taste buds start dancing when I think about mixing some okra powder with some habernero powder for spicy dishes.


Here are a few photos of my okra. Bush Cowhorn is in the railroad tye bed and Choppee is in the landscape timber beds.