How to Grow Ochro in Your Veggie Garden This Year

It's so good fresh ... and so good fried.

Ochro is easily grown throughout the year. Two of these plants will supply enough fruits ( pods) for the home. Ochro contains Vitamins A and C, calcium, carbohydrates, protein, fibre and iron. Ochro grows best in fertile, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

Planting Your Ochro

Ochro is a wonderful and mainly trouble-free plant that thrives in hot weather (80 to 90F is ideal). So Trinidad's climate is appropriate. Cool climates aren’t very suitable for growing Ochro, though northern gardens may get a small harvest. It’s a very popular vegetable in the southern Trinidad and Tobago, where is grows extremely well.

If you’re not familiar with Ochro, it can be a bit of an acquired taste. The edible pods have a sticky fluid in them which can help thicken up soups like gumbo. In some places, Ochro is actually just called “Gumbo” because that’s how people know it. Once you know how to cook with Ochro, it’s actually quite versatile. You can even eat the small pods raw.

The gummy nature of okra tends to make people think it’s a high-fat vegetable which is not true. Okra pods are high in fiber, vitamins A, C and K as well as folate and thiamine.

Starting from Seed

To get the most out of your Ochro, give it a head start with indoor seedlings. It’s a must in cooler climates. Put your seeds into small pots about 6 weeks before. Only cover the seeds with a quarter inch of soil. Keep the pots moist and they should start to sprout in just under two weeks. Its somewhat traditional to soak okra seeds the night before planting to encourage quicker germination. It certainly can’t hurt but as long as you keep your potting soil watered not a necessary step.

Containers

Some varieties of okra will be too large for any reasonable container, but if you choose shorter-growing plants then you can do some container gardening. Your buckets or pots will need to be at least 5 gallons in size, though larger will be better. Find varieties that will grow under 5 feet in height. Annie Oakley is usually around 3 to 4 feet and would work well. Black containers will attract the sunlight and help keep the soil nice and warm for your plants.

Harvest and Storage

Once your Ochro plants start to flower, be on the lookout for the seed pods. They are the most tender when just a few inches long, and about as thick as your finger. Pods that are longer than 5 inches will start to be tough and stringy, so try not to miss any when you are harvesting. Ochro that is just a little tough can still be used in recipes where the vegetables are cooking longer (such as long-simmering soups), but certainly not calaloo.

Pro-Tip

Even though it will be hot outside, don’t try to harvest your Ochro pods in short sleeves. You simply must wear a sturdy long-sleeved shirt and wear good gardening gloves. The pods and leaves are covered in very fine hairs or spines that will irritate your skin.

Click Below for an awesome fry Ochro recipe from Caribbean Pot!

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