Eagle Pass Okra

This was my first time growing okra. They had a late start in the middle of summer, so had a hard time getting started with the intense heat into the 90s, then 100s and drought. They weren't quite as productive as I had expected, but that's probably because they had such a hard/late time starting out. Toward the end of the season they started branching out much more but it was too late to get much more harvest. The stalks also blew over in some verrry windy, rainy weather (I was able to stake them back up and they did fine). Despite some initial issues - most of which were probably due to less than ideal growing conditions - these okra were so good. I didn't like okra much before, but now I can't wait to grow and eat more. I ate some store-bought okra the same time I was getting my harvest and was shocked by how much better these are. I dislike the sliminess so I cook them til they're pretty dry. Even though these are supposed to be less slimy, there's still some slime of course.

Last year, I grew 2 Clemson Spineless Okra plants in a pot. Curious to try this I picked Eagle Pass and the Egyptian Okra. Both have grown well in the humid wet summer we have had in Georgia. This variety has a lower yield than the Clemson Spineless and the Egyptian. The pods are short, fat, and easily turn woody if neglected. Plants are very stout. I had 100% germination with this variety. Nice plant, but will likely try another variety next year, I plan on keeping the Egyptian Okra. As a cooking tip: if you fry, slice thinly, (thinner than normal okra) so it cooks evenly.

It took longer than I expected to sprout (indoors - I could've been doing something wrong) - but 100% germinated. About 1/2 died when I transplanted them, but I think I waited too long. Once they got established, they just kept on producing nice, FAT pods. Even the old ones that became dry toward the stem end softened during cooking and were delicious. I shared with others at the community garden, and they all want seeds for next year! I should mention that production was far and away the best of any okra variety I have ever grown. Excellent taste! There was so little slime, I was able to slice them into rounds and saute them without any mess.

This okra is FAT! Hands down the best okra I have ever had. Crunchy all the way through. Almost no slime. I eat it raw, straight off the plant. This will be the only okra I grow from now on! Ate them so fast, they never made it into the house. Next year I'm going to try pickling them!

I had not grown okra before so I didn't know what to expect. One of the reviews further down said they grew 12' tall. I assumed that was a typo and they meant 12". They meant every word of twelve feet. Mine definitely grew that tall. It took two people to harvest the pods late in the season, one to pull the stalk down and the other to harvest the top of the plant. We had more okra than we could eat all summer long off of 2 (just two) plants. They shaded the entire bed, so don't plant anything that needs full sun nearby.