Organic 'Red Burgundy' Okra
Organic 'Red Burgundy' okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) from the seed company Gaia, a heirloom purple okra, productive and ornamental
'Red Burgundy' okra is a remarkable heirloom variety, prized for its vibrant purple stems and pods that add a decorative touch to the vegetable garden. Its vigorous plants reach 90 to 150 cm (3 to 5′) in height and produce 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8″) pods that are tender and flavorful when harvested young. When cooked, the pods take on a beautiful purple hue , making this okra as appealing in the kitchen as it is in the garden. Highly productive, it continues to bear abundant fruit with frequent and regular harvesting.
Companion plants : Lettuce, Peas, Radish, Pepper, Tomato, Bean, Sunflower, Basil, Melon, Eggplant, Cucumber
Nefarious plants : Rhubarb, Garlic
Spread/Habit : Upright habit, vigorous plant
Plant height : 90 to 150 cm (3–5′)
Quantity per packet : 20 seeds
Certification : Certified organic by Ecocert Canada
Special features : Purple pods 6–8″, very productive, beautiful colours, optimal tenderness when young, edible flowers
Leaf color : Deep green with purplish hues
Texture/flavor : Tender, sweet, slightly mucilaginous, purple color when cooked
Cold tolerance : Low, tropical plant
Farming method
Soak the seeds for a maximum of 12 hours in lukewarm water to facilitate germination. Start the seedlings indoors 6 weeks before transplanting , handling the young plants carefully as their roots are fragile .
Transplant outdoors when the soil is warm and all risk of frost has passed. Sow at a depth of 1.25 cm .
Place in full sun (level 3) and water regularly (level 2) to maximize production, although okra tolerates drought .
Space the plants 45 to 60 cm apart, with 90 cm between rows. Germination takes 2 to 12 days at temperatures between 18 and 32 °C (optimum 21 °C).
Harvesting and preservation
Harvest every 2–3 days , when the pods are young and tender . Frequent harvesting stimulates a high yield.
Store the pods for 7 to 10 days in a perforated bag or ventilated container between 7 and 10 °C .
Usage ideas
• Deep- fried (tempura, okra fritters)
• In Creole okra , stews, curries or Cajun dishes
• Marinated to retain its crisp texture
• Quickly stir-fried with tomatoes, garlic and spices
• As an edible decoration thanks to its delicate flowers
'Red Burgundy' okra is a flavorful, productive, and visually stunning variety, perfect for both cooking and beautifying the vegetable garden. A must-have heirloom plant for lovers of colorful and high-yielding vegetables.
