If you travel much north of the Mason-Dixon line you might find that one of the favorite Southern summertime garden staples – okra – is not readily available.  There are several reasons why okra is so popular in the south, but not so much up north.  One of the biggest reasons is that okra favors the hot humid climate found in southern states and is a close relative of another staple crop that is grown in the south – cotton.

According to UGA Georgia Extension, okra is a great source of a lot of beneficial antioxidants and it can be grown anywhere in the state.  Okra doesn’t require a lot of maintenance or care – or water for that matter; which means it can flourish in the hot, dry, summer weather we often see in our part of Georgia and Alabama.

One of the common mistakes first-time gardeners make when attempting to grow okra is trying to plant it to early.  Okra likes the ground to be warm and will thrive in hot weather.  There is no need to get an early start because the hard-shelled seeds will not germinate in cool soils.  Outside of that, even a novice – or lazy gardener can expect to have a good okra crop.

Another reason for okra’s popularity in the south is that the crop came to the United States from slaves that were brought from Africa.  There are accounts of okra being grown in Ethiopia over 1200 years-ago.

On top of that okra has a ton of health benefits:

• Okra aids in digestion
• Okra is high in vitamin C that can boost immune system strength
• Okra can help strengthen vision and protect against cataracts
• Okra improves skin health and can be applied directly after boiling and mashing
• Okra is a great source of fiber

So no matter how you like it – fried, pickled, boiled – or even raw (yes, it is safe to eat raw and some people enjoy it that way) – enjoy some okra this summer!

Compiled Sources