Last summer was my first attempt at growing a vegetable garden. The first lesson I learned, when you have a 10 x 10 area you need to carefully estimate space needed. I planted pole beans, three types of tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, brussel sprouts and okra. There was a turf war and the dominating plants were tomatoes, cucumbers, and pole beans and they choked out all the others. However, I ran blocker for the okra and it was on the survivor list.
This year I kept it simple and have one tomato plant, one pole bean, and the rest of the space is for the okra. If you know me you know I LOVE okra. When I lived with my grandparents in Waynesville, NC Paw Galloway introduced me to okra from the garden and Maw Galloway taught me how to prepare it. It has been my favorite vegetable ever since.
In Wisconsin we have a shorter growing season and last year my yield of okra was small. This year I started my seeds in the house on the window sill and transplanted outside mid-May. Yes, I know this was risky as we are still susceptible to frost. It is July now and I have a lush little crop.
The okra begins with a pretty flower and when it falls off the buds begins to grow.
My little helper dove in to help Grandma find some okra. I wondered what the view was like for him under the canopy of leaves so I went under myself. How very cool, the canopy of leaves made a cozy little hideaway. Shortly after he surfaced with an okra in hand!!
The harvest is a little lean right now so, I cut it up, coat it with cornmeal and put it in the freezer till I have enough for a meal. In a couple of weeks I will have a bushel of okra .... dinner on Sunday is at 1:00, see you then.
My little helper.
