Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL Garden and Farm Okra Varieties

We have been planting Clemson Spineless. Next year I'm gonna have room to expand to an in ground garden. But that will be an hour from my home.

Clemson Spineless gets tough if you let it get more than 4" tall. So you have to basically harvest every day. Last year we harvested twice a day.

I'm looking at a different variety that is spineless and can be allowed to grow bigger but stay tender. Will go down a couple times a week and harvest.

Suggestions? I've checked online and there are a few different ones. But I want to get the hands on view of those who have personal knowledge.
So far I'm looking at Red burgundy, Burmese and Cow Horn.

Other options?

i’m checking on the variety we pick - it’s what you describe you’re looking for
will reply back when the farmer sends it to me - he ain’t real good about remembering what he plants but maybe he will know this year 🤷🏻‍♂️

i will say tho - based on what we’ve seen the past 4 years - a lot of the growth vs hardness depends on the weather … we would pick about every 5th day & also prune back the leaves aggressively - and when i say pick, if a pod was the size of the tip of your middle finger, i’d cut it off … the only thing i’d leave would be blooms & the tiny small acorn-sized pods … even doing that, we’d have a small amount that would grow long & be hard - but not nearly as much

Check out White Velvet Okra. It's a very old Alabama heirloom. It has great flavor and I've had success growing it, but I have not ever let it get especially big. A couple times a week harvest would likely be fine.

Jambalaya 2.0, early producing, spineless, can get some length and still be tender, more of a bush habitat growth, got 2 acres of it every year. Holds well after picking if refrigerated.

Yep, I think this is what you’re looking for.

Holy cow plowboy, two acres is around 15,000 plants that need picking and pruning several times a week. I got around 250 plants this year and I’m about ready to mow them down because I’m tired of dealing with them. Five gallons a day is what I’m getting from the Clemsons this year. I’ll try some of the J2.0 next year. Are they skinnier than Clemsons? I’m able to get around 13 pods per pint of 3-4” but can get a couple more from the ones that didn’t get as much fertilizer and are skinnier.

We plant nothing but the old tried and true Longhorn and Dwarf Longhorn. I’ve planted Jambalaya and it’s a good okra. You just have to be ready to stay real busy picking that stuff. I had plants that sometimes would have 15-20 pods per plant. It was nothing to pick 20-25 gallons every 2 days. I prefer the Longhorn varieties. If you like fried or baked okra try Star of David. It’s a short thick pod. About 1.5 inches in diameter. You get a nice size medallion to fry or bake.

It will keep you busy, I have 4 guys walk it every other, sometimes 2, days.

LOL welp the farmer wrote me back - he plants Crimson Spineless 🤣🤷🏻‍♂️
obviously he’s an Alabama fan 😜

It's Clemson Spineless. Not Crimson Spineless. Or at least to my knowledge. There is a Red Burgandy too.

actually there is a Crimson Spineless - Google it to see the differences

I did. No real link to it. All circles back to clemson. Dunno?

https://mycountryseeds.com/products/crimson-spineless-okra

Crimson Spineless okra is a popular heirloom vegetable featuring striking deep-crimson pods and spineless stems that make pain-free harvesting easy. The warm-season plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall, mature in 55 to 60 days, and offer a mild, slightly sweet flavor ideal for frying, stewing, or pickling.Plant Care and GrowingSunlight: Full sun (6 to 8 hours daily).Soil: Rich, well-draining soil with a neutral pH.Water: Moderate water; drought-tolerant once established.Temperature: Thrives in hot summer weather; plant after all danger of frost has passed and soil warms up.Harvesting TipsSize: Pick pods when they are young and tender, about 3 to 4 inches long.Frequency: Harvest every couple of days to keep the plant producing.Handling: Wear long sleeves if your skin is sensitive to rough foliage, though the lack of spines on the pods prevents standard prickling.

** apparently he bought it at the Aliceville Co-op where he buys most all of his seed

Interesting. Thank you. I couldn't find a link to that anywhere.

I planted emerald green this year. It's done ok. Probably go back to Clemson spineless next year... or just not plant okra at all. I get tired of okra. If I eat another bite I'll have to put suspenders on my socks.