black spots on okra pods

Temperature, moisture and improper handling can cause previously bright green okra pods to develop discolored dark or black spots. Starting with young, 3-inch pods and handling them correctly from purchase to preparation helps ensure they remain firm and flavorful with no blackening.

Is it OK to eat okra with black spots?

If the pods have a lot of black and brown spots on them, pass them by. Best place to find okra is at farmers market where fresh produce is brought in every day. Frozen okra is okay for stews and gumbo, but the breaded okra for frying is at best a poor substitute for the real thing.

How do you know if okra has gone bad?

Tell if okra has gone bad by inspecting the firm green pods -- if they're soft, squishy, brown, throw them away. Be aware that depending on how it's prepared, good okra may take on a slimy texture when cooked, but this doesn't indicate spoilage.

What causes bumps on okra pods?

Answer: The bumps are “stings” from stinkbug feeding. Stinkbugs insert their hollow mouthpart into the okra skin and suck out juice. When they leave, the pod heals the wound with a characteristic white bump. Stinkbugs are tough to control when adults.

What are the diseases of okra?

Diseases

Charcoal rot Macrophomina phaseolina.
Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum.
Powdery mildew Oidium asteris-punicei.
Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii.
White mold Sclerotinia sclerotum.

How long is okra good in the fridge?

Refrigerate unwashed, dry okra pods in the vegetable crisper, loosely wrapped in perforated plastic bags. Wet pods will quickly mold and become slimy. Okra will keep for only two or three days.

Are okra good for you?

Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Okra is also a good source of: Magnesium.

What does moldy okra look like?

When okra is bad, depending on if it's fresh or in storage, there are some signs to look for. For fresh okra that hasn't been harvest yet, okra that is bad will turn brown and hard.

What is the slime in okra?

Okra pods are known as “mucilaginous,” which results in a slimy or gooey mouthfeel when cooked. This “mucilage” or slime contains soluble fiber that we can digest. ... Keeping the pods intact and briefly cooking (think stir fry) can help to minimize the sliminess of the pod.

Can you eat old okra?

Okra is considered suitable for eating when it is small and young, maybe two days old or so, with the pods less than 4 to 5 inches long. Age is a better indicator of edibility than length. If you leave the pods on the plant for too many days, they dry out and develop an okra woody texture.

Does okra grow back every year?

Okra is a flowering plant that is grown as an annual in most regions, though the species (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a perennial plant in the dry tropical regions where it is native.

How do you keep ants away from okra?

Apply an insecticidal soap to your okra plants to kill aphids and ants. Avoid spraying your okra plants with insecticidal soap if the air temperature exceeds 90 degrees F.
Spray okra at regular intervals with insecticidal soap. Insecticidal soap is a contact insecticide. ...
Monitor okra plants for new ants or aphids.

How do you get rid of okra stink bugs?

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Keep the garden and surrounding areas clean and free of debris. ...
Close off or seal any potential entryways. ...
Use natural repellents in the garden. ...
Encourage beneficials to the garden. ...
Consider planting trap plants. ...
Incorporate traps in and around the home. ...
Learn how to make a stinkbug trap:

Why is okra bad for you?

Eating too much okra can adversely affect some people. Gastrointestinal problems: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fructans can cause diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people with existing bowel problems. Kidney stones: Okra is high in oxalates.

Can you over water okra?

Avoid Over-Watering Okra

In fact, okra performs best when the soil is allowed to dry out some between waterings. Over watering okra can cause root rot and disfigured plants. Okra does best with about 1/2-inch of water per week, depending on rain fall amounts in your local area.

Why is my okra dying?

Fungal Infection

Dense clay soils with poor drainage provide favorable conditions for fungal disease in okra. Okra shows no resistance to verticillium wilt, which damages okra roots and causes wilting and yellowing of the plant above ground. ... Leaves shrivel and die in the final stages of the infection.

Why does okra have black spots?

Temperature, moisture and improper handling can cause previously bright green okra pods to develop discolored dark or black spots. Starting with young, 3-inch pods and handling them correctly from purchase to preparation helps ensure they remain firm and flavorful with no blackening.

How can you tell if okra seeds are good?

There are two easy tests you can take to check to see if there is life left in your old seeds. Water test: Take your seeds and put them in a container of water. Let them sit for about 15 minutes. Then if the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, they most likely will not sprout.

Is it safe to eat okra with brown seeds?

Okra, when well prepared, can cast off its label as slimy. ... Larger okra pods may be overmature and tough with brown seeds inside. A fresh okra pod will have white seeds hidden within it. Avoid buying okra that looks brown, shriveled, dry or decayed.

Does okra help sexually?

Okra is another reputed vegetable of love. Rich in magnesium, it's a natural relaxant. It's also full of iron, folate, zinc, and vitamin B, all nutrients that keep your sex organs healthy and happy.

What happens to your body when you eat okra everyday?

Apart from that okra is rich in magnesium and therefore, helps in maintaining and regulating your blood pressure level in the body. Okra has a protein called lectin which is linked with fighting breast cancer. It is also said that okra suppresses cancer cell growth and helps in preventing cancer.

Can okra reduce belly fat?

Also, learn more about Okra Water to Dry Belly Fat . Okra, also known as Lalo in Mauritius, is a plant of Ethiopian origin, although it is now grown all over the world. ... Because it acts effectively to help control overweight, in addition to making you dry that unwanted belly fat.