{"product_id":"old-black-man-okra","title":"Old Black Man Okra","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAbelmoschus esculentus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eContains ~ 20 seeds per packet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eOrigins, Migration, and Domestication:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e Old Black Man Okra, a distinctive heirloom within the species \u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAbelmoschus esculentus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, traces its deeper botanical roots to Northeast Africa and the Nile Valley, where okra was first domesticated thousands of years ago as part of early agricultural systems. From there, okra spread across North Africa into the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Asia through trade routes. This particular variety carries cultural significance tied to the African Diaspora in the Americas, where enslaved Africans brought okra seeds and knowledge with them during the era of the transatlantic slave trade. Over generations, farmers in the American South preserved and selected this variety for its color, flavor, and resilience. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eThe name “Old Black Man” reflects oral traditions and naming practices rooted in African American farming communities, where seeds were often named to honor elders, lineage, and memory—making this variety not only a crop but a living archive of cultural continuity and resistance. This variety was introduced by Chris Smith of Utopian Seed Project, who received the seeds at a seed swap from someone who said they got them from \"an old black man\". \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eOur Old Black Man Okra seeds were sourced from seed farmer Adam Snowden, who stated that \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eOld Black Man (OBM) okra is a rare heirloom variety valued for its resilience, productivity, and rich cultural history. Plants grow tall and vigorous, producing abundant green pods with a classic, full okra flavor and good tenderness when harvested young.  OBM produces speckled red and green pods. When eaten raw, OBM has a crisp similar to other stalk vegetables. Well adapted to heat and humidity, it performs reliably through long Southern summers and under tough growing conditions. This variety is well suited for traditional dishes like gumbo and stews, offering both dependable yields and a meaningful connection to heritage seed saving\".  Grown in the District of Columbia by Adam Snowden of SoufEast Earthlings Farm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1748\" data-start=\"1150\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1185\" data-start=\"1150\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eAppearance and Characteristics:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e This heirloom is prized for its striking pods, which range from deep red to burgundy, often maturing into a darker, almost blackened hue—hence its evocative name. The plants are vigorous and upright, typically reaching 5–7 feet tall under favorable conditions. The pods are slender, ridged, and tender when young, and the plant produces pale yellow, hibiscus-like flowers characteristic of okra. As a member of the \u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eMalvaceae\u003c\/span\u003e, it shares visual similarities with ornamental hibiscus, adding beauty as well as productivity to the garden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2399\" data-start=\"1750\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1768\" data-start=\"1750\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eCulinary Uses:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e Old Black Man Okra is valued for both its flavor and visual appeal in the kitchen. The pods retain a rich, earthy taste and are slightly less mucilaginous than some green varieties when harvested young. They are excellent for traditional dishes such as gumbo, stews, and braises, where their thickening properties are prized. The deep red pods also make a striking addition to pickled okra, stir-fries, and roasted vegetable medleys, although the color often deepens or fades with cooking. In African and African American culinary traditions, okra is a staple ingredient symbolizing nourishment, resilience, and cultural heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3047\" data-start=\"2401\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2432\" data-start=\"2401\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eGrowing Tips and Sow Depth:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e This heat-loving crop thrives in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, performing best in USDA Zones 7–11 but adaptable in warmer parts of Zone 6 with proper timing. Direct sow seeds after the last frost when soil temperatures reach at least 65–70°F. For best germination, seeds may be soaked for 12–24 hours before planting. Sow seeds at a depth of ½ to 1 inch, spacing plants 12–18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Regular harvesting encourages continuous production. Like many okra varieties, it is drought-tolerant once established but benefits from consistent moisture during flowering and pod formation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"3561\" data-start=\"3049\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"3073\" data-start=\"3049\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003eHarvesting Guidance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e Harvest pods when they are 3–5 inches long for optimal tenderness, typically 50–60 days after planting. Frequent harvesting—every 1–2 days during peak season—prevents pods from becoming tough and fibrous and stimulates the plant to produce more. If left too long, pods harden quickly but can be saved for seed, continuing the lineage of this culturally significant heirloom. Wearing gloves is recommended for some growers, as okra plants can have small spines that may irritate the skin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"3561\" data-start=\"3049\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0617\/6938\/4169\/files\/Okra_Growing_Guide.pdf?v=1676914913\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOKRA GROWING GUIDE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ADAM SNOWDEN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50906744946921,"sku":"10-014","price":4.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0617\/6938\/4169\/files\/OldBlackManOkra_2.jpg?v=1776801382","url":"https:\/\/ujamaaseeds.com\/products\/old-black-man-okra","provider":"UJAMAA SEEDS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}