Types of Okra

Types of Okra

Table of Contents

• Common Okra Types
• Dwarf and Semi-Dwarf Okras
• Long Okras
• FAQ About Types of Okra

Known as gumbo in the South and lady's fingers in some countries, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is primarily cultivated for its long, fuzzy, green seed pods. Technically, okra is considered a fruit, but it does well in vegetable cuisines like soups, stews, and stir-fry. Due to their tender texture, okra leaves can be an alternative to beet greens in recipes and salads.

Growing okra at home opens you up to an array of varieties; all with unique characteristics in flavor, growth, size, texture, and yield. 

Common Okra Types

Okra is traditionally grown in regions with subtropical, tropical, and warm climates, but this annual plant is suitable to all USDA hardiness zones. In the South, the longer growing season provides enough time for many okra varieties to grow. Early-maturing varieties are fine to grow in regions in the United States with colder temperatures.

Heirloom and Hybrid Okras

Before we run down different okra varieties, let's first learn the two primary categories of the crop — heirloom and hybrid.

Excellent examples of heirloom okra varieties include Clemson Spineless 80, Cows Corn, Emerald, Hill Country Red, Jade, and Star of David. Essentially, heirloom varieties are free from any crossbreeding for at least 40 to 50 years. Being true to seed, heirlooms are ideal for seed saving as they manifest the same traits as the parent plant. Many ethnic, familial, and social units in certain regions of the world traditionally maintain these heirloom seeds passed down from one generation to the next. In some cases, seed companies maintain the heirloom variety.

victoria bowers//pexels

If you're aiming for mass producing okra, consider hybrid varieties. Agriculturists innovated this type by deliberately cross breeding two types of okra. The resulting hybrid can have valuable traits from both the parent plants. Resistance to cold, disease, heat, and pests can be strengthened in hybrid varieties. Additionally, the enhancements on flavor, growth, and yield for this type are advantageous in large-scale farming.

Annie Oakley II, Dardo, Little Lucy, and North and South are all considered hybrid okra varieties.

Other Popular Okra Groupings

Take a look at some of the most prominent okra varieties grouped by characteristics.

Types of Okra Pod Colors

Green is the typical color of okra pods, but some varieties come in other colors.

Types of Okra Pod Colors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Green Okra Pods	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Emerald (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Multicolored Okra Pods	Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Orange Okra Pods	Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Red Okra Pods	Bowling Red (Rare Seeds) Candle Fire (Territorial Seed Company) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Okra Pod Sizes

Not all okras are created equal. Some are longer than others.

Types of Okra Pod Sizes	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Dwarf-Sized Okra Pods	Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market)
Semi-Dwarf-Sized Okra Pods	Emerald (True Leaf Market) Jade (True Leaf Market)
Long Okra Pods	Bowling Red (Rare Seeds) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Okra Flavors

Okras are generally sweet. Other hints of flavor vary, depending on the cultivar.

Types of Okra Flavors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Earthy and Sweet Okras	Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Star of David (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Mild and Sweet Okras	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Emerald (True Leaf Market) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Okra Textures

When eaten raw, okra provides a special crunch in salads. Some mature okras tend to be tough. You can soften them by cooking.

Types of Okra Textures	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Crisp Okras	Candle Fire (Territorial Seed Company) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Tender Okras	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Emerald (True Leaf Market) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Star of David (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Geographic Origins

The exact origins of okra are hotly debated. Some studies suggest it originates either from .

Types of Geographic Origins	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
African Okras	Nkruma Tenten (Rare Seeds)
Middle Eastern Okras	Star of David (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
North American Okras	Alabama Red (Rare Seeds) Bowling Red (Rare Seeds) Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Heavy Hitter (Rare Seeds) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Louisiana 16 Inch Long Pod (Rare Seeds)
Asian Okras	Burmese (Rare Seeds) Candle Fire (Territorial Seed Company) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Culinary Uses

Due to its flavor and texture, okra has a handful of culinary applications. Excess okra should never go to waste as you preserve them longer for future uses.

Types of Culinary Uses	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Okras for Canning and Pickling	Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Okras for Frying and Stir-fry	Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)
Okras for Soups and Stews	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Emerald (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Disease Resistance

Some okra varieties are more resistant to disease than others.

Types of Disease Resistance	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Disease-Resistant Varieties	Candle Fire (Territorial Seed Company) Emerald (True Leaf Market)
Susceptible Varieties	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions

Okras thrive well in warm soil with full sun exposure. Check out these varieties to see which fit your garden needs and resources before buying okra seeds.

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Container Okras	Clemson Spineless 80 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Emerald (True Leaf Market) Hill Country Red (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jade (True Leaf Market) Jambalaya (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market)
Field and Greenhouse Okras	Burmese (Rare Seeds) Cow Horn or Cows Horn (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Jing Orange (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Perkins Long Pod (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Red Burgundy (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market)

Popular Varieties of Dwarf and Semi-Dwarf Okras

alabama extension//flickr

Don't underestimate the small-sized pods of these okra varieties. Although shorter than we're typically used to, dwarf and semi-dwarf okras are not short of flavor and texture. Some dwarf varieties are considered early maturing.

Variety	Description	Days to Germination	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Emerald	Developed by Campbell's Soup Company in the 50s, Emerald okra grows a 5- to 8-foot plant with ribbed green pods. You can harvest the okra pods when they reach 2 to 4 inches long for a more tender texture. Emerald okra is good in soups, but you can it raw or cooked by baking and grilling.	6 to 14 days	55 to 70 days	True Leaf Market
Hill Country Red	Another ribbed okra variety, the Hill Country Red thrives in a well-drained soil with full-sun exposure. This heirloom okra from Texas yields thick green pods with hints of red that develops during maturity.	2 to 12 days	60 to 70 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market
Jade	Originally produced by the University of Arkansas, the Jade okra variety is an excellent choice for home gardeners due to its early maturity and reliable yield.	7 to 14 days	55 to 60 days	True Leaf Market
Jambalaya	If you can only do container planting, consider Jambalaya. Its compact plant structure and uniform pods will surely fit your pot of choice. Jambalaya okra has versatile culinary uses (raw or cooked). You can also preserve the tender pods through canning and pickling.	7 to 10 days	55 to 58 days	Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market

Popular Varieties of Long Okras

liza//flickr

Fully-matured okras tend to have a more vigorous texture. You can tone this down by cutting your okra in small pieces and cooking it in a gumbo or stew. You can blanch or boil them, too.

Variety	Description	Days to Germination	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Bowling Red	Originating from Virgina, the Bowling Red okra plant can reach up to 8 feet tall. This variety grows deep red stems and pods. If you're tired of the common green color of okras, explore this variety to give a pop of blush to your home garden and meals.	7 to 14 days	55 to 60 days	Rare Seeds
Cow Horn or Cows Horn	Similar to cow horn in appearance, pods of this okra variety can reach up to 14 inches long at best. Its meaty texture does well in soups and stews.	7 to 14 days	55 to 60 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market
Louisiana 16 Inch Long Pod	You can harvest the pods of this Louisiana variety once they reach 10 inches long. Some okra pods tend to become tough as they mature, but not with this variety. Pods stay tender for a longer period compared to other varieties of okra.	7 to 10 days	60 to 65 days	Rare Seeds
Jing Orange	Suitable in soups and stir-fry, Jing Orange is an Asian variety that offers beautiful red-orange okra pods about 6 to 7 inches in length. This variety has a high yield and tolerates drought and heat efficiently.	7 to 14 days	30 to 60 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market
Perkins Long Pod	This Southern favorite can grow 5-foot plants with pale green pods about 8 inches in length. Traditionally, Perkins Long Pod is used in making gumbo and excess harvest can be preserved through canning. It is a staple in Southern gumbo.	7 to 14 days	55 to 60 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market
Red Burgundy	Red Burgundy was first developed by Leon Robbins of Clemson University. The height of this variety can reach anywhere between 3 and 4 feet. Expect pods with purple to red exterior.	7 to 10 days	80 to 85 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market

FAQ About Types of Okra

Which okra type is suitable for cooking gumbo?

Varieties of okra such as Clemson Spineless 80, Cows Horn, Emerald, Jambalaya, and Perkins Long Pod are traditionally used in gambo. Okra serves as a thickener as the pods release mucilaginous slime during cooking. Wash your okra harvest first, removing any impurities. Some cooks prefer smoother pods. To achieve this texture, gently rub the fuzz found on the okra skin during washing. You can use a nylon scouring brush. Add the chopped okra to your gumbo, or soak it for half an hour in apple cider vinegar or red wine. 

What okra varieties have ridged pods?

Prominent ridges on okra pods will result in interesting shapes when you chop the pods horizontally. Varieties with ridged pods include Louisiana 16 Inch Long Pod, Jing Orange, and Star of David.

Originally published on Types of Okra

© Insteading

Source: Types of Okra