What's happening in the field?

At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station

Climbing okra anyone?

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We planted some climbing okra in the high tunnel this year. The seeds were given to us by Gene Campbell last year. Climbing okra isn’t a real okra but is a member of the cucumber-gourd-pumpkin family or Cucurbita. The scientific name is Luffa acutangula and some of the common names are climbing okra, Chinese okra and ridged gourd. It is a warm season annual vine with bright yellow flowers. For more information, check out this FLOWERALLY post https://floweralley.org/2015/08/11/climbing-okra/

Dr. Maciej Pszczolkowski tasted the climbing okra, but is not quite sure if he likes it
Dr. Maciej Pszczolkowski tasted the climbing okra, but is not quite taken with it

 

The climbing okra should be picked at about 6 - 8 inches long
The climbing okra should be picked at about 6 – 8 inches long