Silver Queen Okra Seeds

This is my third year growing okra, but the first year I have tested all these varieties (in order of best productivity to worst at the 70 day mark) : Candlestick, Bulldog, Clemson Spineless, Jambalaya, Silver Queen, and Star of David. ***I personally would not grow this one again. I realize that I'm a little early in judging this one since I'm at only 70 days and the description clearly says 80 days to harvest. It has been giving me some pods since about 60 days, a few earlier, but overall (and again, just at 70 days) it is a distant 5th compared to other varieties. The lighter color is a nice touch in my basket of mixed okra, but its just a touch thus far as I only get about 2 or 3 pods total every other day on 10 plants. Sometimes only one. Maybe it will take off here in a couple weeks, but I don't want to wait 80 days for okra when other varieties gave me a decent harvest starting at 55 days or so. It's a pretty plant, decent height, etc. so I'll give it an honest 3 out of 5.*** I do not claim to be a master gardener, and these are only my results and methods. I planted 10 of each variety, 3 feet apart in rows that are 8 feet apart so that I could mow in between rows. I used a chicken manure based, organic fertilizer mixed with bagged topsoil and my native clay and humped up the rows under weed barrier with a drip system to get them started. I have not fertilized further. I have only used neem oil and BT for insecticides and I hand pick caterpillars, stink bugs and grasshoppers as often as I can. I haven't had major deer problems, though the deer have ready access to the entire plot. I use scissors to cut of the pods as close to the trunk as possible. I also cut off bottom leaves which have yellowed from bug damage and pull the wilted flowers off the emerging pods since they are a gooey mess – I think that’s from the extreme humidity here and that seems to help the pods mature a little quicker, but that’s just something I’ve been trying for the first time this year. I will review each of the 6 varieties. The second paragraph will be specific to the variety, the rest will just be the same ol' mumbo gumbo you just read ;) I sure do love gumbo, which is the whole reason I did this at all.

I got my first packet of Silver Queen okra from Park Seeds, and absolutely loved the okra. Silver Queen does not get tough and inedible even when it grows large. It's also an heirloom, and I've been saving seeds of and on, although I still order these wonderful okra seeds too.

We have planted this okra for several years and have never been disappointed with the results. Highly prolific and great flavor. We share our abundant bounty with friends and neighbors due to the sheer quantity of each picking. The stalks are quite hearty and can withstand wind with little problem. In the fall, a SHARP corn knife is required to dismember the stalks. We plan to keep going this variety for years to come.

I have tried other varieties with no success. Here in southwest Georgia, we have high temps, humidity, and heavy rains. I have grown Silver Queen since 2005 and it always produces a heavy yield until frost. It does have spines so wear gloves. We have lots of bugs and some do sting baby pods which grow tough; so include this in your spray program. The pods are tender up to five inches. I prefer it stir-fried or in soups and it tastes very good. A 20 foot row produces more okra than I can use and my friends like that. It is drought tolerant but you still need to water it as it grows 6 - 8 feet (pull down the stalks to harvest). Productive branches often grow below the canopy. The root system is tremendous making it a challenge to remove some stalks in the Fall. IMO, this is the best variety where I live.

I am on this site ordering these specific seeds for the 3rd season. The okra grows easy, is VERY drought & heat tolerant and the fruit is awesome. The pods are sweet & tender and good enough to eat raw! I don't understand the other reviews - my whole neighborhood loves these!