Decado
Green Thumb
Posts: 480
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:52 pm
Location: Crystal, MN (Zone 4)

How do I tell if Okra is woody?

I've never grown it before and the only other thing I've grown that gets woody is kohlrabi, which is pretty obvious. The okra I just picked (clemson) is like 5-6 inches long but I can still cut into it and it doesn't look woody. I have never bought and prepared okra either so I'm at a total loss here.

User avatar
Lindsaylew82
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 2115
Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 9:26 pm
Location: Upstate, SC

It's hard to tell without cutting into it.

Early season okra is usually pretty tender as long as it get proper water. The later the season gets, the tougher the okra.... No matter how much water. I tend to pick it real small in the later parts of the season. I keep the pickles for myself in case they are tough. The smaller they are, the more tender they'll be.

If my knife meets any resistance when I cut, that okra pod is trashed. I've been so busy and tired the past few weeks that what little okra I'm getting is worthless... Time to plant some beans!

Decado
Green Thumb
Posts: 480
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:52 pm
Location: Crystal, MN (Zone 4)

Like how much resistance? I cut into one but my knife is pretty sharp.

User avatar
Lindsaylew82
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 2115
Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 9:26 pm
Location: Upstate, SC

Yeah, my knife is pretty sharp, too. If it makes a "crunch" sound or stops the knife while using little force, toss it.

imafan26
Mod
Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Okra should be picked young around three inches. If you wait until they are 8-11 inches they will be very woody.

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30514
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Seeds get too tough to bite into, too.

Juliuskitty
Green Thumb
Posts: 364
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:13 pm
Location: South Florida

I find it best to cut it when it gets as long as a finger. Thats a good rule of thumb. :lol:

Grandad
Full Member
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:53 pm
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Zone 9a, Sunset Zone 28

Not all okra need be cut at a short length IME. Cultivars like Cowhorn and Louisiana Long Green can get fairly long and still be tender. However, I did find the finger rule to be true for Clemson Spineless. Nonetheless, you can't go wrong when using the finger rule.

User avatar
Gary350
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7396
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:59 pm
Location: TN. 50 years of gardening experience.

I usually just cut them off when they are about 4" long. They slice easy into 1/2" long pieces like a banana. If they are soft and tender they are flexible like a hot dog. When they get woody they are stiff as a dowel rod.

imafan26
Mod
Posts: 13962
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:32 am
Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

Kitty. You made a funny. It made me laugh thinking about fingers and thumbs. :-()

"I find it best to cut it when it gets as long as a finger. That's a good rule of thumb. "



Return to “Vegetable Gardening Forum”