Okra

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - 57 days. Grown by the Bowling family of Virginia since the 1920s. Early, productive, and beautiful - one of the best okras in the Kerr Center’s trial of 30 heirloom varieties. Long, slim, tender red pods. 7-8 ft. plants have red stems and red-veined leaves. Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 7-8 feet tall Pods are red Pods grow to 9-12 inches long 47 days 4g, 80- 100 Seeds per packet    Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - 53 days. Bears when plants are 18 in. tall and continues to bear until frost. Huge leaves, typically 16 in. across. 9-12 in. slender pods are curved and virtually spineless. Pods mature from light green to creamy yellow-green. At 10 in. long they are tender, sweet, and spineless enough to be eaten raw or added to salads. Pods are less gooey than other okra. Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 4 feet tall Pods are deep burgundy Pods grow to 9-12 inches long 50 days 4g, 80- 100 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Very productive variety with early, bright green pods. High Mowing Organic Seeds - This new and improved version of the tried and true Clemson Spineless variety offers up pain free picking and earlier production. The plants yield more than the previous incarnation and plants have a taller, more open habit. Harvest young for peak tenderness. Organic Productive 3-4" pods 30 seeds   Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart

The Seed Savers Exchange - An All America Selections winner in 1939, was introduced by Clemson University. Still the most popular open-pollinated variety on the market. Vigorous plants grow 3-5' tall. Exceptionally uniform, deep green ribbed and spineless pods are best harvested when 3" long. Excellent quality. 50-64 days. ±500 seeds/oz.  Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 3-5 feet tall Pods are spineless Best harvested when pods are 3 inches long 50-64 days ±500 seeds/oz 100 Seeds per packet  This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States but does not tolerate cold well Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields.  Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 50 days. Spineless variety from India averages 5½ ft. tall. Pods up to 8 in. long, pods remain tender for a long period. The Kerr Center named it the easiest variety to harvest (thanks to unbranched plants) in their trial of 30 heirloom varieties. Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 4 feet tall Pods are deep burgundy Pods grow to 6 inches long 50 days 4g, 80- 100 Seeds per packet    Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Said to originally be from the Hill Country of southern Texas. Beautiful 6' tall red-stemmed plants produce wide green pods tinged with red. Full of the good okra flavor popular in the hill regions of the south. Excellent pickling variety. Characteristics:  Plants grow to 6' feet tall Pickling variety 60-70 days 100 Seeds per packet  This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States but does not tolerate cold well Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields.  Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Burgundy) Bred by Leon Robbins at Clemson University after eight years of careful selection. Introduced in 1983; All America Selections winner in 1988. Stunning 4' plant with burgundy accents and tender burgundy pods up to 6" long. Good yields. 55-60 days. ±500 seeds/oz. Characteristics:  Organic Plants grow to 4 feet tall Pods are deep burgundy Pods grow to 6 inches long 55-60 days 100 Seeds per packet    Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - The straight, green, downy pods of this variety are intermediate in length and width and are best eaten when under 5" long. Seed Savers Exchange member Dr. James Wolfe received the variety from the Simpson family of Rogersville, Tennessee. D.V. (Simpson) Thomas remembers her mother, Nora, growing this okra as far back as the early 1940s. 50-70 days.  Characteristics:  Organic Harvest as early as 50 days 100 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields.  Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Old Fashioned Okra) Tall 7' plants have purple coloration on leaves and thick pods that are best picked at about 3" long. Cross-sections of pods look like the Star of David, giving this variety its name. Like many okra varieties, this plant bears beautiful flowers and foliage that could warrant a place in the ornamental border. 60-75 days.  Characteristics:  Plants grow to 7 feet tall Plants have purple coloration on leaves Best harvested when pods are 3 inches long 60-75 days 100 Seeds per packet  This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States but does not tolerate cold well. Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

This beloved one is a week out from arriving - it has by far been a fan favorite thus year. We have plenty more coming but it’s going to be slightly delayed. The Seed Savers Exchange - One of the unique varieties in SSE’s okra collection. Ivory-green pods grow to 7" long on vigorous 6' tall plants. Tender when young, delicious flavor. Great producer at Heritage Farm. 80 days. ±480 seeds/oz.  Characteristics:  Plants grow to 6 feet tall Ivory pods grow to 7 inches long Best harvested when pods are young 80days ±480 seeds/oz 100 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields.  Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability