One of the joys of gardening for children is growing edibles that match their food preferences. In the process of farming favorite foods, children learn history, science, math, nutrition, and problem solving.
History of Okra
Children are delighted to discover that plants have nicknames, families and histories just as people do. A gumbo garden is a timeline in a larger timeline.
Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, is also known as “gumbo” and “lady finger.” As a member of the mallow family its close kin are cotton, hollyhock, and hibiscus. The family resemblance is observable in the flowers.
Okra originated in Africa and was first spotted along the Nile in Egypt in 1216. Did Cleopatra eat okra?
Historians speculate that slave trading first introduced okra to North America. The French brought okra to Louisiana. By 1748 there are reports of okra in Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson noted it growing in Virginia in 1781.
Okra did not become popular as a food until 1925 with the invention of frozen food and the introduction of more taste tolerant varieties.
Okra has remained a southern traditional food and is still celebrated in festivals throughout the south.
Varieties of Okra
Growing okra introduces children to the wide variation of color, textures, forms, and flavors of a single vegetable.
Although ‘Clemson Spineless’ dominates the marketplace, an astounding variety of heirloom okras exist.
Challenge children to grow an okra rainbow of pink, red, lime green, dark green, white and yellow pods. They can grow okra with only 3-inch pods (‘Star of David’) up to 12-inch pods (‘Cow Horn’).
How many varieties can they locate using the following online catalogs?
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
- Native Seed/SEARCH
- Sandhill Preservation Center
- Seed Savers Exchange
- Southern Exposure Seed
Science Tests For Growing Okra
Children can conduct several tests in the process of growing okra. These tests transfer to growing other plants too.
Okra as a hot weather plant requires soil temperatures of 65°-70° at a 4 inch depth for germination. Children can use a soil thermometer to test soil temperature before seeding. Throughout the growing season, children should retest soil temperature to compare with air and water temperatures in the garden.
There are several ways to hasten germination of okra seed besides proper soil temperature. Advisories include nicking or scarifying the seed, freezing the seed overnight, or soaking seed in warm water overnight. Test different methods and find out which works best.
Okra is very tolerant of poor soil but does best in well-drained sandy loam with a pH from 5.8-7.0. Introduce the pH scale and have children find okra’s range. Then have them make a soil pH test with a kit. What amendments, if any, must be made to your soil?
Mathematical Okra
The child acquires and applies measurement, number, and spatial relationships in the garden. Children sow okra seeds 1 inch deep and 12 to 24 inches apart or as directed on the seed package.
Once seeds are sown, children should record the date planted and the date seeds sprout on a calendar or in a journal. In how many days did seeds germinate? Does it compare with seed package information? What percentage of seeds germinated?
How tall will the plants get according to the seed package? How tall did your plants get? How long are the mature pods of different varieties? Very young children may use their body height or finger length to compare plant height and pod length while older children use standard measuring tools.
Graph the growth rate of each variety grown. Which variety flowered first? Compare the maturity dates of each variety.
How many seeds are in the pods of each variety?
How many pounds of okra does each plant produce? Which variety produced the most okra by weight? by pod? by pod length?
A Container Gumbo Garden
An alternative to planting okra directly into the ground is to plant in five-gallon food grade plastic buckets, one plant per bucket. Cut drainage holes into the bottom covering holes with newspaper to retain the soilless potting mix and compost.
Buckets have a number of advantages. The buckets have handles and can be moved around. Buckets stay weed free.
With each variety in its own bucket, one can isolate plants for experimentation and to control pests and diseases. Rootknot nematodes will not affect okra in buckets.
Buckets make watering, picking-off pests, fertilizing and harvesting easier for the young gardener.
Children enjoy personalizing bucket gardens with names like “Planet of the Pods,” “Mellow Mallows,” and “Gumbo Rumba.”
Harvesting Gumbo
Okra growers learn that the biggest mistake in growing okra comes at harvest time. Harvest takes trained observation of individual varieties to know prime picking time for eating. Pods left on the plant too long will be tough, fibrous, and woody.
Seed packages give maturity dates of varieties. Calendars should be marked at planting time as to when to expect to start harvesting the first crop.
Feasting on Gumbo
Okra pods should be picked just before preparing them and require no more than five minutes of cooking time. Pods retain maximum nutrients with minimum processing.
Okra is prepared by steaming or boiling, dipping in egg and cornmeal and frying, or adding as an ingredient in stews and soups.
The gummy extract of cooked okra is considered “slimy” or “satisfying” depending on the person. The extract can be dissolved by adding lemon juice or vinegar to the cooking water.
One serving of okra, nine pods, contains 25 calories, 4 grams of fiber, Vitamins A and C, and good amounts of beta-carotene, calcium and potassium.
A season of gumbo gardening brings maturity to both the crop and the young gardener.
Sources
- “Aggie Horticulture” Report from Texas A & M University online.
- Kuepper, George. “Growing Heirloom Okra at the Kerr Center A Preliminary Study 2008” online report.
- Minnich, Jerry. Gardening for Maximum Nutrition. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1983.
- Smith, Powell, et.al. “Okra.” Clemson: Clemson University Extension, April 2003 online.
- Watch Your Garden Grow. “Okra”. University of Illinois Extension online.
Arlene Marturano - Arlene Marturano, an educator, consultant, master gardener, and writer advocates gardens as a context and gardening as a tool for ...
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