Chinese Okra

Be sure to check out our Okra Growing Guide for more tips & tricks on successfully growing okra at home. Chinese Okra is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety that is an excellent multi-purpose plant for your vegetable garden. Also known as "vine okra" or "ridged luffa gourd," this variety produces edible fruits that can also be dried for making sponges and homemade dishwashing cloths. Contrary to what the name suggests, this is actually a gourd variety that produces edible fruits when harvested young. Chinese Okra produces elongated fruits that are tender when harvested under 10-12" long. At this stage, the fruits resemble large okra pods and can be cooked just like okra. The ridges on the exterior of the fruits make them a great option for frying. The taste is similar to okra with a hint of cucurbit flavor on the end. Plants are vining and perform best when grown on a trellis. To make sponges, allow the fruits to dry on the vine and harvest once they are completely dry. Chinese Ok