Okra, Clemson Spineless

Clemson Spineless is a classic southern okra variety with tender, spine-free pods that won't scratch you during harvest. The plants are super heat-tolerant and productive, and if you pick the pods every couple days when they're 3-4 inches long, they'll keep pumping out okra all summer.

Okra: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a heat-loving mallow family vegetable that thrives when other crops wilt, producing tender, mucilaginous pods essential for gumbo's signature thickening. The plants are beautiful, featuring show-stopping yellow hibiscus flowers that precede pod development. Enjoy the distinctive silky texture when cooked properly, or grill, pickle, or slice the pods thin for raw salads. Red-podded varieties offer additional ornamental value, making this a true summer vegetable royalty for your garden.

• Growing Tips: Transplant 2-3 weeks after the last frost when soil reaches 70°F, spacing plants 12-18 inches apart; requires warm soil and air temperatures to thrive.

• Sun Requirements: Full sun (8+ hours required).

• Preferred Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; tolerates heat and moderate drought once established.

• Harvest Details: Pick pods when 2-4 inches long and still tender, typically 50-65 days after transplanting; harvest every 2-3 days as pods rapidly become tough and fibrous; plants produce continuously in warm weather.