10 August 2012

Red Okra


On 10th April (click HERE) I wrote the wonder vegetable in the name of lady’s finger (or okra or kacang bendel). Our plant expert, sdr TEMUK, in his posting on 28th April (click HERE) introduced us RED okra which was totally new to many of us. He went as far sending Pacik a few seeds. We (note the ‘we’ as I truly cannot claim credit for the real work!) had them planted.



Watch the development in the following pictures:


Before being transplanted



Growing well on the ground



First couple of red okra


A good nine-inch okra


Believe it or not the first fruit is about nine inches long! It will be left to become seeds for more plants and more seeds. On my retirement from work at Almanar Pakcik will then start my red okra seed business, earning something like five ringgits a seed!

To Sdr Temuk, please accept our thanks for introducing this plant in the ground of our home, very likely the first of its kind in the whole of the East Coast. We hope to get a few okra for tomorrow’s ‘buka puasa’.



  Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

24 comments:

ahmad humairi said...

السلم عليكم ورحمة الله

Mengikut cerita di laman NUKILAN, kacang bendi ini akan bertukar warna menjadi hijau bila dicelur.

Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir dan batin dan maaf atas segala-galanya.

Anonymous said...

for the life of me, I've never seen or heard of red bendes. I guess everyday is a learning experience.

sintaicharles said...

So beautiful.

kaykuala said...

Dear Pak Cik,
Ladies fingers I've read somewhere have some special properties good for the heart. I wonder if it's true. And whether the red variety can do just as well. Amazing!

Hank

No3 said...

Hi babah,

I hopefully there would be some for the girls when we are all back this Raya. Luke most children, eating their 'greens' is a problem, perhaps 'reds' will be easier!

No 3

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Dear Pakcik,
My Mama it's the detested "lendir" that's good for health, supposedly for the bones and nerves. We've heard the name kacang bendi but not kacang bendel. Best steamed and eaten with sambal belacan. Yummm.....har har har *evil laughs*

Ismail aka Pak Mail said...

Salam Pakcik,

I suppose the red bendes taste just like the green ones as to the red and yellow water melon.

Al-Manar said...

Cikgu Humairi,

Waalaikumu-ssalam. Memang betul apa yang di katakan dalam Nukilan. Kami dah ambil cuba. Yang cantik merah berubah menjadi hijau pudar. Maya Allah. ini lagi satu kebesaran NYA. Memang sains boleh memberi penjelasan tetapi siapa yang betul betul dapat menjadikan rekaan yang cantik dan ajaib?

Sama sama bermaafan dan berHari Raya, Aikgu.

Al-Manar said...

Noir Hussen,

Indeed it is. What baffles me is that bendes is so common yet ones coloured red, grown as easily as the green ones and yet looking so different and attractive, are that rare.

Incidentally I have again and again experienced difficulty to leave comments in your blog. Jahil betul lah Pakcik ini! Will keep trying nevertheless.

Wan Sharif said...

Woh nombor satu dalam Gganu... Kacang bende merah!
Nok kena tanya.. Rasanya sesedap yang warna hijau ke?

Al-Manar said...

Sintaicharles,

It occurs to me if you have one and use your writing skill to describe it, you will produce a wonderful piece of essay for your kids.

Al-Manar said...

Hank,

Apparently okra has many mredicinal values, one of which is against constipation. I quite belive that. Hopefully the red one is more potent. Take one for your poem!

Al-Manar said...

No 3,

There are so few and thus very expensive. The angels will have to bid for them, requiring their father to rob the bank.

See you all soon.

Al-Manar said...

C-f-S,

That lendil is a wonder drug making sure things move in and out smoothly. Not really living here you would not know bendel is. We say owang, nasik, ikang etc etc and bendel. Kacang bendi may indeed be the correct DBP terminology. But here even our cats 'ngeong', in English mind you, instead of meowing.

Don't laugh

Al-Manar said...

PakMail,

Yes, the taste is the same. But I have a feeling that it has slightly more 'ledil'- can't be sure yet. I am vcertainly hhoping it has more medicinal values than it is claimed.

Al-Manar said...

Ayah Wang,

It tastes much the same and the colour is green (lighter) as well.

Tok soh mari nngedeng. Nok buboh pagor besi dduri, tk mboh owang ambek.

ninotaziz said...

i love steamed ocra with sambal belacan.

I have never heard and seen red ocras before. Well I envy your garden - first for the home grown black pepper and now for your red ocra.

Makes Al Manar - famous for its school, now for its garden!

kaykuala said...

Dear Pak Cik,
Yes, apparently there are medicinal values. I'll get one done. May I borrow your image, the one with the ruler to easily prove the length. Thank you!

Hank

Al-Manar said...

Ninot,

There is nothing to envy about. Beach sand does not promote growth other than casuarina, coconut and panddan laut, the last for weaving mats.

Selamat berrpuasa. Don't make your cute little one suffer too much for fasting, scaring her from doing more.

Al-Manar said...

Hank,

I have emailed you a copy of the photo.

Anonymous said...

Salam Babah,

Looks like I have to join the bidders for these red okra. What I know is that red veges are good for the blood eg beetroot. Perhaps these red okra may be the same.

No.1

Al-Manar said...

No 1,

It may be true that it is good for the blood. So look after the potted ones. Keep one for seeds and enjoy this wonderful veg.

Love, babah

Temuk said...

Terima kasih kembali, sdra Al-Manar. Semoga suburlah tanaman okra merah sesiapa sahaja yang memperolehi biji-benihnya daripada al-Manar. Semoga kesemuanya, terutama yang belum pernah merasainya, dapat menikmati kurniaan Allah yang indah dan enak itu.

Al-Manar said...

Temuk,

Akan berpanjanganlah zuriat red okra pemberian Sdr. Semoga mendapat balasan dari NYA. Terima kasik