I believe we’re lastly goring to be getting some cool fall climate. We had been a bit dryer than most of us like, up till that down pour per week or so in the past. Produce within the backyard remains to be going good, some issues are winding down however others just like the cole crops, carrots, parsnips and beets are are doing good and it seems to be like it’ll be yr for them.
One other crop that’s nonetheless producing in my backyard is okra. In the event you took my advise final Might and planted some okra it ought to nonetheless be producing for you additionally. if you happen to like okra it has been yr for it. One in every of my favourite recipes is a vegetable gumbo that you simply prepare dinner in a sluggish cooker. I truly attempt to plant all of the components within the backyard so they’re prepared to select on the similar time. I’ve but to perform this in totality, however I get nearer on a regular basis. I often quadruple the recipe and may what I don’t eat. As a result of it’s simply greens it’s simpler to can. Right here is the recipe:
1 pound okra, sliced
1 pound tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped inexperienced pepper
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 cups corn kernels
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons recent chopped parsley
1 tablespoon recent basil, minced
Salt and pepper to style
In a crock pot, mix vegetable broth, onion, inexperienced pepper, celery and garlic.
Cowl and prepare dinner on low for 3 to 4 hours.
Add okra, tomatoes, and corn, together with Tabasco, paprika, parsley, basil, and salt and pepper.
Cowl and prepare dinner two to 3 hours longer.
What I like in regards to the vegetable gumbo is you may eat it simply the best way it’s or add what ever meat you need. Through the winter I open a jar of the house canned gumbo and put in leftover rooster, turkey, beef or what ever is round for an amazing meal. I particularly prefer it with fish.
The largest mistake made by most house gardeners when rising okra is to permit the pods to turn into too mature earlier than harvesting, this will destroy even the very best recipe. Okra ought to be harvested when seed pods are younger, tender and fiber-free. For many varieties that is when pods are about two to 4 inches in size. Due to the speedy progress fee of okra, harvesting each different day is typically mandatory to forestall pods from turning into overly mature. Okra doesn’t retailer nicely (I do know this from expertise). If tried, storage ought to be in a paper bag within the warmest a part of the fridge.
A few years in the past I dehydrated some okra. I ended up with what chewed and tasted like seasoned stick. I’ll follow gumbo to protect my okra any further.
Glad gardening.
Peter Sutter is a life lengthy gardening fanatic and a participant within the MU Extension’s Callaway County Grasp Gardener program. Gardening questions might be despatched to [email protected]
