If you are blessed to be a part of Southern living,  fresh vegetables are truly a delight and the home grown taste is just fabulous.  One of the most traditional vegetables grown in the south is okra.  It is easily grown, and once it starts to yield, you will have fresh okra until the first frost.  Actually, it seems to produce more in the early fall than during the summer months. 

Most gardeners start their okra crop from seed.  There are many different varieties of okra, so when purchasing your seed, do the research to find out which variety is best for you.  Preparing your soil for planting will take a bit of work.  Okra thrives well in soil that contains a high level of nitrogen.  However, well drained soil of any type will grow okra quite well. 

Once your plants are well established and blooms begin to appear, leaf pruning is necessary.  Take a knife and cut a considerable amount of the leaves from the plants.  This process enables the okra to produce faster, and in no time you will be eating delicious fresh okra from your garden.   You will need to harvest your okra every two or three days, depending upon how you prepare your okra.  You will need to gather the small tender pods for boiling, and the longer ones for frying.

There are many tasty recipes for preparing okra.  Many people like it boiled, while others prefer it fried.  All you need to prepare boiled okra is salt, pepper, butter, and a small amount of water.    Cook until tender and serve with other vegetables.  If you prefer fried okra, cut in pieces, add seasoned salt and onion powder.  Mix together one egg and buttermilk for marinating your okra.. Roll in meal and drop into hot grease.  Make sure your grease is hot enough, it is the key to crisp fried okra.  When your okra is a golden brown, take up and drain on paper towels.  You have just prepared a favorite southern dish that your family will love.