Days to Maturity: 50 from direct sow; 28 from transplant

At last, an okra that has it all! Jambalaya is super quick, very productive, and delicious. This compact plant is just the right size for a home garden. Compact plants set masses of evenly sized, dark green fruit for top quality eating. In short, it's the okra you've been waiting for!

These tender-meaty pods are 4 to 5 inches long, nicely tapered, and very evenly sized. (Great for canning or pickling them whole; they line up beautifully and always fit in the jar without looking squashed!) Dark green and glossy, they appear among small foliage on neat little plants, usually within about 7 weeks of sowing the seed in spring. What could be easier?

Jambalaya is a good okra for use in soups, stews (including the New Orleans delicacy for which it is named), and casseroles. Fry it whole or sliced for a new taste sensation. It loves heat, doesn't mind humidity, and doesn't need perfect soil to grow and bear its very best.

Okra is a warm-weather crop, needing both the soil and the nights to be warm before beginning its vigorous growth. Plants begin bearing when about a foot tall, and will continue until frost if kept picked. For best flavor, harvest the fruit at 4 to 6 inches.