Abelmoschus esculentus
Okra is very commonly used in creole cooking typical of places like Louisiana in the USA. It does very well in our climate and is fairly pest and disease free.
Okra is started from seeds anywhere from April to September. You can start in seed trays or direct sow in their final location. Plants should be spaced 1 – 2 feet apart and you can expect to start harvesting in a little less than 3 months.
To harvest, pick pods when they are fairly small as the larger pods are very woody and are no good for cooking. The plants have little hairs that can cause irritation, so wear gloves when handling the plant.