Can 9-10 foot OKRA Stalks be dried for stakes?

taffy341 · 09-06-2012, 01:35 PM

I have nine varieties of various colored okra (organic/heirlooms) and the stalks are thick (2 - 3 inch diameter) which are 6 to 11 feet tall.

Question 1: It seems a shame to let such tall stakes after the season go to waste! Does anyone know if those okra stems can be dried/cured so they can be used as stakes/trellises/etc.?

Question 2: Does anyone know uses for pods that have become too long and woody? I know that some people use in dried decorations but I'm not interested in pod decorations.

Can the woody pods be cooked down to vegetable broth? What can be done besides letting the pods dry on the plant for seeds?

I am presuming in original 'okra countries' where nothing goes to waste, that the woody okra is put to some good/productive uses for the family.

At the moment I just keep saving the pods on the plants for seeds. I have taken pictures of the plant/pods to keep visual records with the seed packets. Also some of the community gardeners here want to buy seeds.

Question 3: I want my okra to eat & freeze for winter... I pick okra every day but some of the sneaky little guys hide and by the time I find them they feel woody.

I'd also like to pickle/can but I'm afraid of food poisoning if I do it wrong.

If something is pickled why does it have to be refrigerated after opened???? I remember seeing pickled eggs & pickles in previously opened jars on counters in country stores in the past.... ????? Didn't they stay safely preserved without refrigeration????

Any and all information & advice is appreciated.

bldrbill · 09-06-2012, 10:47 PM

In response to #2, you can cook the dried seeds and eat them like peas. Not great, but edible. For #3, I freeze the smaller pods whole in a zip lock with water and they are almost as good as fresh when thawed and boiled (really just warmed up) but still firm, then eaten as is or added to soups, etc. If you boil them too long they get too slimy for me.

taffy341 · 09-15-2012, 11:13 PM

Thanks for the information.... I've also roasted the whole okra pods sprinkled with season salt & powdered garlic.... pretty good to snack on.... crispy dry and/or just roasted.... same flavor as fried okra minus the corn meal coating.

09-06-2012, 01:35 PM	#1
taffy341 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 46	Can 9-10 foot OKRA Stalks be dried for stakes? I have nine varieties of various colored okra (organic/heirlooms) and the stalks are thick (2 - 3 inch diameter) which are 6 to 11 feet tall. Question 1: It seems a shame to let such tall stakes after the season go to waste! Does anyone know if those okra stems can be dried/cured so they can be used as stakes/trellises/etc.? Question 2: Does anyone know uses for pods that have become too long and woody? I know that some people use in dried decorations but I'm not interested in pod decorations. Can the woody pods be cooked down to vegetable broth? What can be done besides letting the pods dry on the plant for seeds? I am presuming in original 'okra countries' where nothing goes to waste, that the woody okra is put to some good/productive uses for the family. At the moment I just keep saving the pods on the plants for seeds. I have taken pictures of the plant/pods to keep visual records with the seed packets. Also some of the community gardeners here want to buy seeds. Question 3: I want my okra to eat & freeze for winter... I pick okra every day but some of the sneaky little guys hide and by the time I find them they feel woody. I'd also like to pickle/can but I'm afraid of food poisoning if I do it wrong. If something is pickled why does it have to be refrigerated after opened???? I remember seeing pickled eggs & pickles in previously opened jars on counters in country stores in the past.... ????? Didn't they stay safely preserved without refrigeration???? Any and all information & advice is appreciated.

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09-06-2012, 10:47 PM	#2
bldrbill Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 15	In response to #2, you can cook the dried seeds and eat them like peas. Not great, but edible. For #3, I freeze the smaller pods whole in a zip lock with water and they are almost as good as fresh when thawed and boiled (really just warmed up) but still firm, then eaten as is or added to soups, etc. If you boil them too long they get too slimy for me.

09-15-2012, 11:13 PM	#3
taffy341 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 46	Thanks for the information.... I've also roasted the whole okra pods sprinkled with season salt & powdered garlic.... pretty good to snack on.... crispy dry and/or just roasted.... same flavor as fried okra minus the corn meal coating.