Plant between one-half and 1 inch deep in a rich soil. Okra seeds have a hard coat, and germination will improve greatly if they are soaked overnight. 'Burmese Okra' and 'Little Lucy Hybrid' grow 18 inches and 24 inches tall respectively, and are excellent choices for pot culture. 'Cajun Delight,' 'Vidrine's Midget Cowhorn,' 'Dwarf Long Green' and 'Lee' all come in at 36 to 38 inches tall, and are suitable for small gardens. While several cultivars grow a whopping eight to 10 feet tall, most okras fall into the four- to five-foot range, and there is a wide variety of smaller, even dwarf, choices. Okra sown in clean potting medium in pots or raised beds above soil level should not be troubled by nematodes, and can be grown throughout the season. Due to its susceptibility to nematodes, it does better if planted in ground from January to March, and August to October, since nematode activity decreases when temperatures are cooler. Okra can be planted anytime between January and October in South Florida. Though okra likes full sun, it will not suffer from a little afternoon shade during our hottest months. Newer cultivars such as 'North and South,' 'Annie Oakley,' 'Dwarf Long Green' and 'Baby Bubba' set fruit in 50 days or fewer, and are suitable for more northern climes. Some cultivars require up to 80 days to flower and fruit, which once restricted okra's cultivation to warm or tropical climates. Okra grows best between 75 and 90 degrees, and will not germinate unless soi It has since become a staple not only in Southern and Cajun cuisines, but is also a mainstay in Caribbean, South American, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern diets. Okra is just one of several vegetables introduced from Africa to the New World in connection with the slave trade. Fortunately there are many ways to cook this often-maligned vegetable that do not result in unpalatable glop. Unfortunately, the mucilage that makes okra a wonderful thickener for soups, stews and gumbos can reduce this vegetable to ropy slime if it is not prepared properly. Few vegetables compare with okra when it comes to arousing fear and loathing in prospective diners.
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