"perrylep" wrote:
My old timer gardening buddy says when one cuts the okra from the plant to
also cut the accompanying leaf...He had no clear reason, but said "that's
what you do"...
Any merit to that practice?

I've been growing okra for many years, never heard of that practice.
I cut just the pods with a small amount of stem when they're fairly
small, about 3-4 inches... I don't really see how you can include a
leaf without also cutting into the main trunk and damaging the
plant.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/26940/

Usually I freeze them in zip-locs and save them for the winter months
for soups and stews. Okra is kinda ok breaded and fried but then I
don't consider it so much a vegetable as fat laden breading so it's
rare I fry them. Those I don't freeze get cut into salads and I
pickle some. I began growing okra from when I visited Belize many
years ago and saw them growing everywhere; large handsome plants with
gorgeous blossoms. Okra does best in warmer climes but they grow here
in NY too.