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Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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Posted by mountainman_bc z6 Canada (My Page) on Sun, Jan 22, 06 at 18:56
I thought I posted this but it's gone...
I bought something that looks much like okra, only it's about two feet long! From an asian grocery store.
Any idea what it is?
Can I keep the seeds to grow them? I have a short growing season but could use plastic...
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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| Could it be the angled/ridged luffa gourd aka sing gwa or sze gwa aka Luffa acutangula. I grow these every year and I enjoy them alot. You let it dry out and the seeds are black in color. I have plenty of seeds if you want to do SASE. |
RE: Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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Hello- thanks for the response.
I ate it last night, and the seeds were white- looking much like a cucumbers. The raw texture was like marshmallow/zuccini- it this what you were speaking of? I would imagine a luffa would be spongee also!
Either the seeds weren't ripe or it's he wrong plant. |
RE: Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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- Posted by baci z10Ca (My Page) on
Thu, Jan 26, 06 at 9:24
| The seeds should be black – the white seeds are not ripe. If you dry immature white seeds they will flatten into an almond or brown color. Good ridged luffa seeds should be black and with a slight amount of thickness; kind of like a watermelon seed. Here is the Luffa acutangula piksi_was referring to: http://images.google.com/images?q=Luffa+acutangula&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images Luffa sold in a store will probably not have good seeds, as the fruit needs to stay on the vine longer for mature seeds. These plants take a long time to maturity, so you do not want to mess around with bad seeds. You may also want to start them indoors - possibly soon - if you have a short growing season. I cook my luffa. I know luffa can be eaten raw, but I believe it is the younger fruit that is eaten raw. Others might want to comment, but you might want to search the topic more. |
RE: Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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| Mountainman, Yes, the young angled luffa has small white seeds inside and is edible. I cook them with chicken or make soup out of them. These seeds are not ripe as baci said. I grow them for the fruit and then leave some on the vine to brown and dry out. Once they are dried enough, you can shake the gourd and hear them rattle inside. If you want to try some this summer, LMK and I will send you some for SASE. |
RE: Giant okra? Any idea what it is?
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| Piksi_hk- Thanks for the sase offer! I won't take you up on this, but thanks anyways! |
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