Posted on 10/22/2005 9:09:26 AM PDT by devane617
October 21, 2005
Mitchell County- Joe Henry has worked in agriculture for decades.
"I've been a pecan shaker, and then I've been a cotton picker, and then I've been a peanut shaker, and I've been a 'bacco cropper."
He even grows a few vegetables in his yard from time to time, but never anything as special as his super-tall okra.
"I didn't do nothing special to the okra, nothing but plant it, put a little fertilizer to it, come out every once in a while and look at it," Henry says.
The 80 year old thought he'd just plant a few pots in the spring and get a few pods to eat, but he never expected them to grow to a whopping 17 feet tall.
"It got to where I have to use a ladder to cut it." On average Henry says okra plants grow to about 5 or 6 feet. His past that mark long ago and are still growing.
"I don't know if I've got a green thumb, or its just in my messing with it." Henry remembers years ago growing some tobacco taller than his mules, but he says nothing can top his okra which is now topping his house.
Not only do Henry's plant's grow big, but they are also big producers. In fact, he's gotten 75 or 80 pods from one stalk alone. He didn't eat all of it himself though. He gave some of it away to relatives and step-children.
So if it isn't a green thumb, or special care or fertilizer, maybe it's the soil that's made his okra sprout so high.
"Well, that might be pretty close to it," Henry says.
But whatever is, Henry calls it a blessing. And as long as he's got a little water to sprinkle on it and fertilizer to put on top, Henry says he'll keep on nurturing his gift from God.
Joe Henry says he's not sure of the variety of the okra, but he may try planting some other vegetables in the future.
Henry is cool!
Jumbo gumbo.
Okra Windfall
Mmmmm....okra....
I love Okra Gumbo, and fried Okra....Lunch Time!
Don't forget the okra pickles!
Question: "What is the best way to serve okra?"
Answer: "To someone else."
It is really hard to beat a bowl of okra gumbo with lots of jalapenos in it and a pan of hot buttered corn bread and sweet ice tea.
Sounds good!
I meant my "mmmmmm....." to be "the yummy sound." We just cut it in cross sections, flour and fry in about a half inch of oil in an iron frying pan until it's golden brown. Or we'd make pickles....50:50 water to vinegar with some salt and a whole cayenne pepper just to give it a little kick.
My dad liked okra pods added to butter beans...I donl't really like 'em that slimey.
Okra cut up in vegetable soup is good too.
I love okra, too! Every which way it is cooked, boiled, fried, gumbo, and pickled....
Gotta have me some okra....
I must be hungry! Your okra gumbo, jalapenos, cornbread, and sweet tea, sound like heaven!
Okra urge...Okra urge ! Mmmmm....lunch at Poor Richards is just around the corner.
I've never been further south than Fayetteville, NC, but I love okra. Okra and barley are the two things that improve any soup. MMMM MMMM.
>>>On average Henry says okra plants grow to about 5 or 6 feet. <<<
That depends on the okra species. Certain species grow much taller than others. There are other factors. For example, okra loves heat. If you plant too early in the spring the growth will be stunted. Another critical factor is water. Mulch will enhance growth by providing additional heat, plus the added moisture okra desires. But water is key. I watered every four days (or the fourth day after a good rain), and routinely grew 16 foot okra plants in my South Carolina garden. I am certain many plants were more than 17 feet.
Do you direct seed or start plants indoors?
Philip, I agree with you, it seems like my family garden had Okra that was large also. My dad is has a garden evey year, even at age 85. Love those fresh South Georgia veggies from my daddy's garden.
"Okra, this is Uma...Uma, This is Okra."
Cracker Barrel's is scruptious! A little salt on it. Mmmmmmmm.
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