Okra uses.

[RiverPines]

What can you do with it if you dont use it in the kitchen. We dont use it for sauces or in any cooking.

I have a few seeds but cant think of any reason to grow them.
I dont like planting something I have no use for.

I was wondering if there is any use besides human consumption?

I have chickens, rabbits and sheep. Any of those eat it?
If they do, which parts, the pods, leaves, stems, all?

Can you make rope or something out of it?

Is there an decorative value like you have with drying plants materials for crafts?

Anything?

[Belfrybat]

Let the pods completely mature and harvest them. Then shell the seeds and grind for coffee substitute. I really know of no other use as my critters never ate it, either plants or pods.

[blufford]

Here some recipes for the stuff. I've never had it myself.

http://southernfood.about.com/librar.../aa081401b.htm

This thread reminded me of a song I heard sevral years ago.

CHORUS
I got ba-na-na, watermelon, peaches by the pound,
Sweet corn, mirleton, mo' better than in town,
I got okra, enough to choke ya,
Beans of every kind,
If hungry is what's eatin' you
I'll sell you peace of mind,
But this ain't what you came to hear me say,
And I hate to disappoint you,
But I got no love today,
I got no love today,
I got no love today,
No love today

http://www.rhapsody.com/chris-smithe...ay/lyrics.html

[Tarheel]

Deer love it ! They don't normally come to the garden until the okra starts to bare. But then again why do you want the deer unless you are like me and like to eat them. (the deer that is)

[MariaAZ]

I feed the big, over-grown okra pods to our rabbits as treats.

[Old John]

We love it while the pods are tender, not quite mature. Slice them in 3/8ths or half inch pieces. roll in beaten eggs & corn meal........and just Fry 'em!
Yumm, great side dish.

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

Let the pods completely mature and harvest them. Then shell the seeds and grind for coffee substitute. I really know of no other use as my critters never ate it, either plants or pods.

I thought I'd heard of all the coffee substitutes, hadnt heard of using okra seed. Any idea how it tastes?

And the other person commenting about deer liking it. Just what I need, another deer attractant. Course they want to eat okra and leave rest my garden alone, I'd plant them their own okra patch. More power to them.

[whiterock]

boiled, fried, pickled. put some in blackeyed peas, stews, soups. Dried pods in wreaths, arrangements. I throw dry pods in with chickens after i collect seed. They seem to enjoy hunting for the remaining seed.

[hippygirl]

Ha! Being a southern gal, I simply can't imagine anyone NOT loving fried okra! However, I've seen people deliberately leave pods to grow large and allow them to dry for floral arrangements.

If you've never grown it before, just be aware that handling the pods and plants "can" itch you to death!

[CountryWannabe]

I like to eat okra in very limited amounts. I add a few sliced pods to soups and stews to thicken them, and I always put some in ratatouille. I like it breaded and fried now and then. But the *real* reason I grow it is because I think the flowers are really pretty. I don't do much flower gardening at all, so to me okra is a "bonus" plant. Reminds me a bit of hibiscus

Mary

[Shrek]

I found out that if you let okra mature to seed pods that the seeds can be added to mixed bean soup and the seeds contain all the nutrition of the okra making them a dandy pantry store item.

When I harvest my okra peas, I use the pod husks as worm feed and bedding. Dried seed pods can also be blended as a high nutrient worm chow powder.

While I like my okra southern fried, pickled or in soups and gumbo in addition to the dried okra pea style I came up with, I have friends who so hate the okra slime, pea style is the only way they like it.

The only way I dislike okra is boiled. You try feeding me boiled okra , you better make sure I checked my pistol at the door and dont try following me when I walk out the door because I will hire a lawyer who will prove I gunned you down in self defense and get me a walk, especially if theres Southerners on the jury and I call Paula Deen as an expert witness for the defense

[Allen W]

Somebody convinced Grandma that boil okra and tomatoes were good. She said that was the only thing she ever cooked that didn't make it to the table. She threw the slimy mess out before Grandpa came in to eat.

[Marianne]

I LOVE stewed tomatoes and okra- over rice, so good! And nothing better than fried, and okra pickles are wonderful!

But I'm with you, Shrek, leave the boiled far, far away from me!

[RiverPines]

So from the looks of it there really isnt no use other than human consumption and maybe rabbits for eating some pods.

Guess I wont grow it and just pass on the seeds to my SIL.

[hippygirl]

Originally Posted by Allen W

Somebody convinced Grandma that boil okra and tomatoes were good. She said that was the only thing she ever cooked that didn't make it to the table. She threw the slimy mess out before Grandpa came in to eat.

OK, so there IS one way I won't eat okra...stewed with tomatoes...forgot all about that one.

Gak!

[thebaker]

Oh my goodness Okra is really delicious to eat. Fried okra, use okra in stir-frys, gumbos,pickled, in salads and other things. I can't get enough okra. So this year I planted 6 rows of it so can pack my freezer full of okra, just like I love corn.

Remember okra is slimy and sticky - it supposed to be that way. If you object to this quality, don't eat okra. You can't get rid of this quality by soaking or overcooking. Accept it and like it. The slimy and sticky stuff don't bother me one bit.

When cut, okra releases a sticky substance with thickening properties, often used in soups and stews. Gumbos, Brunswick stew, and pilaus are some well-known dishes which frequently use okra.


Nutrition of Okra.
Okra is a good source of vitamin C and A, also B complex vitamins, iron and calcium. It is low in calories, a good source of dietary fiber, and is fat-free.

Someone had mention using okra seeds as a substitute for coffee. So I done a research on that and that came about back in 1800's. You can use okra for your hair of what I've read on the Internet but I've never tried it.

For me I will keep eating my okra..

[PulpFaction]

I do love fried okra and today on Iron Chef Cat Cora made Okra Fries with fancy cheddar cheese sprinkled on them and it looked GREAT. If I can find some fresh okra this far north I will be having some.

I also like leftover fried okra straight out of the fridge! Such a good little snack.

But, non-human-consumption purposes:

Okra has beautiful flowers very reminiscent of Hibiscus. The regular size plants are quite large, like a sunflower, and from a decorative standpoint could be used similarly, with a bit more spacing between plants. (I like planting sunflowers around the base of my houses when I don't have foundation plantings. Great for covering up an unsightly foundation quickly.)

The plants are scratchy/itchy however. You might even be able to use them as an effective summertime privacy hedge or wind break if you plant a couple of staggered rows or do a row each of sunflowers and okra. And I'm sure the seeds of both would be appreciated by livestock and wildlife alike.

[pheasantplucker]

Dry them out. Build snowmen. Use in place of carrots for their noses. Sorry...that's all I got!

[michiganfarmer]

Ive heard that okra is used in the making of sorghum syrup.

Tiney amounts of it are added to the sap during boiling to get scum to come to the top for skimming

[bill not in oh]

Pick it young (2 1/2 - 3") and pickle it with a couple of cayenne peppers. Folks that won't eat it any other way love it pickled...