This vegetable is coming into its own for a new generation of gardeners, thanks to improved varieties and rediscovered heirlooms with exceptional flavor and yields! If you’ve never thought of giving this humble sun- and heat-lover a try, reconsider the merits of easy-to-grow, quick-finishing okra!
Many of today’s new okra varieties are spineless, which makes picking easier (no more poked fingers!). The flowers are almost as showy these days as the blooms, although some new cultivars get into the mix with colored pods. For a vegetable that looks modest when you see it picked and stripped in the supermarket, okra is pretty ornamental in the garden!