Okra: Varieties

There are many cultivars of okra. Pods range from under 5 cm (2") to 20 cm (8") long. They may be dark or light green, or (less common) bright red; the pods of some of the red-skinned cultivars remain red even after being cooked. The pods may be ridged or smooth. Their gumminess also varies. There is a general preference in the USA for the gummier kind and for ridged pods of about 16–18 cm (7") long.