Under this category in our online vegetable seeds catalog you will find specially selected varieties of seeds of the leguminous seed plant, also known as the oldest vegetable that has been cultivated on earth, namely Okra.
Okra is a herbaceous flowering plant with seed pods, part of the Slezaceae family. It is believed that the culture dates back to Antiquity, from 3000 years ago, and originated in Asia Minor and the country of Ethiopia.
Culture is highly valued in Asian and African cuisine. It is accepted that she was honored by the sultans in the ancient Arab countries. In Turkey, they use it, mainly for its seeds, from which they make coffee, and in America, they make the famous "Gumbo" stew, whose main ingredient is precisely okra.
The flowering plant is so widespread that it has many names. In the Mediterranean and Arab countries, the vegetable is known under the name "bammies", in France - "gombo", and in many parts of the world, it is also found under the name "lady's fingers", because of its pods, which have a thinner and elongated shape. In Bulgaria, we call this ancient vegetable - "okra".
Okra is characterized by a straight, tall stem that reaches a height of up to 2 m and a very deep root, which is measured up to 1-1.5 m deep. The leaves of okra are located successively along its stem and are colored in different shades of green. Forms large flowers that bloom in shades of lemon yellow, with slight red tinges towards the base.
The fruits are a box with several sockets, with a cylindrical or pyramidal shape, which is pointed towards its tip. The color of the fruit is green, but there are varieties colored red. When it reaches full maturity, the many-celled box bursts at its edges, and the seeds are poured out.
The reasons for its wide distribution are many, but the main ones are its well-balanced nutritional composition, its useful properties, as well as many culinary applications.
The first thing we can mention about "ladies' fingers" is that they are low in calories. In 100 grams, there are only 30 calories, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of protein. With its low-calorie content, okra becomes a wonderful idea for people who strive for a more dietary and healthy lifestyle.
The second thing to add is that okra is a great source of vitamins and minerals. In its composition, it is distinguished by a high amount of Vitamins C, and B vitamins, vitamins A, vitamin D, and K. The minerals found in this vegetable are thiamin, niacin, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
