Okra Seeds - Hill Country Red

$2.79

60-70 days. Hill Country Red Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Hill Country Red okra seeds mature to 6 feet tall and is a good producer of thick green pods tinted with red at their ends and stems. Pods are deeply ribbed and have a firm texture with light yellow seeds inside. Okra seeds thrive in the heat and are 6" long when fully mature, but are most tender when picked at 2-3" long. They gain their deep red tint as they mature. Harvest often to keep them coming. ~500 seeds per ounce.

Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF

HeirloomVegetableAnnualNon-GMO

Growing Non-GMO Hill Country Red Okra Vegetable Seeds

Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDFPDF icon

How to Grow Hill Country Red Okra from Seed

Okra is a full sun crop that does not perform well in cold soils. Seeds can be sown direct after the final frost date but, for earliest starts, begin indoors 3-4 weeks prior. Plant 2-3 seeds 1/2" deep per peat pot or 4-6" apart in the garden in sandy, Organically fertile, and well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-7.0. Okra germinates in 4-10 days, transplanting or thinning your best starts to 18-24" apart in the garden. Seeds may pre-soak 12-18 hours to accelerate germination, but is not required. Okra thrives from regular watering and fertilizing.

Okra thrives alongside other full sun staples such as melon, cucumber, and eggplant. These plants don't do well in cool temperatures, so be sure to keep them away from frost. During growth, remove weeds so that they don't interfere.

Hill Country Red Okra in the Vegetable Garden

Okra is a heat-loving summertime favorite synonymous with some of the hottest, most humid regions in the country. Okra is a fruiting crop that produces tender 2-3" edible pods all the way through the warmest months of the year. Related to both hibiscus and hollyhock, okra is also celebrated for its huge, gorgeous flowers that bloom in shades of orange, pink, red, and white.

These okra are tender, and grow productively. One downfall is that pods do sometimes contain small spines. Plants can have large white-yellow flowers that attract bees.

Hill Country Red okra grows 4-6' tall. Has 3" bronze red fruit that are full of true heirloom okra flavor.

Harvesting Hill Country Red Okra

Okra is most flavorful when harvested at 2-3" long or about 60 days after sowing. Harvest often to keep up with fruiting while encouraging production. Wear gloves when handling okra plants because the fine hairs are known to cause skin irritation. Using a knife, simply cut okra pods from the plant while leaving some stem attached to the fruit. Garden fresh okra does not store well and should be enjoyed the day it is picked.

After harvest, pods can be stored in refrigeration for up to one week, and store best when wrapped. To bring out the flavor of the okra, it is best to grill them. They can also be eaten raw or pickled when harvested small. They are excellent roasted, fried, or chopped and added to cooked dishes as well.

Pods are most tender and delicious when picked young, at around 3" long. To harvest pods, cut them off the stem of the plant.

About Hill Country Red Okra Seeds

Abelmoschus esculentus. (60-70 days) AKA: Texas Hill Country Red

Okra is said to have originated in Africa and followed the slave trade establishing itself in the Caribbean Islands, Brazil, and the Southern United States.

This variety is a Texas heirloom and was given the name "Hill Country Red". The okra is red in color and "The Texas Hill Country" refers to the limestone hills surrounding Austin/San Antonio Area.

However, it is unlikely it was first established there, as this area was largely settled by Germans who opposed slavery, but who were quick to adopt new vegetables through trade. It is more likely it originally came into Brazoria County, Texas in the South where there was an active slave trade and many plantations that quickly adopted any new food source. It is believed slaves themselves were sometimes able to smuggle a few precious seeds with them on their terrible journey.

Many times they were grown in substance gardens that some slaves were allowed to grow for themselves. It is not uncommon for people to bring their food source from a foreign land with them. It is however, amazing that any incarcerated person was able to do so. This is what makes heirloom seeds so special.

Did you know the leaves of okra can be eaten like beet greens either fresh or cooked? Okra seeds were also roasted during the civil war as a coffee substitute when Northern forces disrupted trade routes in the South.

Hill Country Red Okra Seeds Per Package:

  • 10 g - Packet - Approx 175 Seeds
  • 1 oz- Wholesale - Approx 500 Seeds
  • 4 oz - Wholesale - Approx 2,000 Seeds
  • 1 lb - Wholesale - Approx 8,000 Seeds
  • 5 lb - Bulk - Approx 40,000 Seeds
  • 25 lb - Bulk - Approx 200,000 Seeds

Non-GMO Hill Country Red okra seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on orders over $75.

People who bought this product also bought

Okra Clemson Spineless Seedsnon gmo clemson spineless okra seed bag

Okra Seeds - Clemson...

Starting at
$2.49
Okra Seeds - EmeraldOkra Seeds - Emerald Close up

Okra Seeds - Emerald

Starting at
$2.49
Kohlrabi - Purple Vienna Garden and Microgreen Seednon gmo purple vienna kohlrabi seed bag

Kohlrabi Seeds - Pur...

Starting at
$2.49
Red Burgundy Okra Seeds - Non-GMORed Burgundy Okra Seed Packet

Okra Seeds - Red Bur...

Starting at
$2.49
Rutabaga - American Purple Top - Microgreens SeedsNon-GMO American Purple Top Rutabaga

Rutabaga Seeds - Ame...

Starting at
$2.49
red treviso endivenon gmo red treviso endive seed bag

Endive Seeds - Red T...

Starting at
$2.49
Sweet Pepper - Purple BeautyPurple Beauty Sweet Pepper Seeds

Pepper Seeds - Sweet...

Starting at
$2.49
Turnip - Purple Top White Globe Garden Seedsnon gmo purple top white globe turnip seed bag

Turnip Seeds - Purpl...

Starting at
$2.49
rouge d'hiver romaine/cos lettucerouge d'hiver romaine/cos lettuce seed packet

Lettuce Seeds - Roma...

Starting at
$2.49

Broccoli - Waltham 2...

Starting at
$5.86

Discover similar items in Vegetable Seeds

Spinach Giant Nobel Garden Seedsnon gmo giant nobel spinach seed bag

Spinach Seeds - Gian...

Starting at
$2.49
Carrot Tendersweet Vegetable SeedNon GMO Tendersweet Carrot Seed

Carrot Seeds - Tende...

Starting at
$2.49
Cucumber - Pickling - Boston Pickling Garden SeedNon-GMO Boston Pickling Cucumber

Cucumber Seeds - Pic...

Starting at
$2.49
Squash Summer Zucchini Black Beauty Organic SeedSquash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Black Beauty (Organic) - Packet

Squash Seeds - Summe...

Starting at
$2.99
detroit dark red beet seedsNon-GMO Detroit Dark Red Beets

Beet Seeds - Detroit...

Starting at
$2.49
Sweet Pepper - Big Rednon gmo big red sweet pepper seed bag

Pepper Seeds - Sweet...

Starting at
$2.49
Broccoli - Waltham 29 Garden and Microgreen SeedNon-GMO Waltham 29 Broccoli

Broccoli Seeds - Wal...

Starting at
$2.49
Squash Summer Zucchini Black Beauty SeedBulk Black Beauty Zucchini Seeds

Squash Seeds - Summe...

Starting at
$2.49
Onion Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish SeedsUtah Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds - Bulk

Onion Seeds - Long -...

Starting at
$2.49
Pea Snap Sugar Snap Seednon gmo sugar snap pea seeds

Pea Seeds - Snap - S...

Starting at
$2.69

Review data

out of 5 stars

reviews, Q&As