Take it from an expert (ME).
Okra is a member of the hibiscus family gumbo is pronounced GOOMBO in Africa.
From many years of growing I have come to love Louisiana Green velvet the best.
Here is the one that will cause controversy.
Okra pods can get big without getting to hard or stringy. It takes lots of water and good soil it wants to live in a marsh and I have never over watered Okra.
If the conditions are right it can get 6 inches long and still be good.
When cutting okra if the pod snaps off or the knife goes through without cutting through fibers it is good to go.
You can fry okra that is too mature to boil. But only a little.
You can dry Okra in the dark and eat it later in gumbo and it will stay green.
Only mature pods will produce good seed so wait till the end of the growing season to grow seed pods.
Okra is so intolerant of cold weather I had some hear of a forecast for frost and it died before the real frost came later that week.
You can eat the blossoms.
Top the plant and it will branch out.
A pinch of vinegar in the pot will cut out the slime many people dont like.
I like Okra raw.
I have been known to eat a truck load of okra in one setting.
I like boiled Okra that is cold with salt and pepper on it.
I have never met an Okra I didn't like.
Many people that dont like okra are found to be mean to animals and babies.
People north of the Mason Dixon line shouldn't grow Okra.
Its a food of the sowth and should stay that way.
I love Okra,
Worth.