CHINESE OKRA SEEDS

Luffa acutangula

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2020. We've grown “edible" luffa varieties before and been unimpressed, but this selection of Luffa acutangula is really delicious. Delectable when harvested young, the peeled flesh adds a wonderful sweet flavor to curries and stir-fries. Makes a superior Chao Sigua.

Large ridged fruits are set in abundance on long healthy climbing vines. The plants quickly reached the top of a 12' trellis in our garden, and ultimately found their way onto the neighboring fence and adjacent trellises. These plants will be ideal for arbors and arched cattle panels.

Possibly the most exciting and unexpected aspect of these plants is the flowers, which are a luminous yellow and sweetly fragrant, especially at night. It was the most magical of garden mysteries, when for several evenings in early summer we could not pinpoint where the perfume was coming from. It never occured to us that a lowly luffa could waft such a beautiful fragrance. The flowers attract bumble bees, butterflies and moths. Extrafloral nectaries attract beneficial insects.

For best eating quality, harvest when young and green. Thoroughly remove the the rough skin before cooking. Flesh is tender but holds up well to cooking. Not strictly Chinese, this species is common to several diverse cuisines of South and Eastern Asia.

Mature fruits do develop typical luffa-like properties, but they aren't as cohesive or easy to clean as the common Luffa aegyptiaca. Only marginally dual-purpose in that respect. Best as a vegetable.

Our original seed stock was gifted to us. If this is a specific culitivar, we don't know it. What we do know is that this is a truly worthwhile garden vegetable. Easy to grow and very productive. Unrelated to actual okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), but thus far it lacks a better common name in the Americas.

Grown by Farmacie Isolde.

Packet contains at least 15 seeds.