Description
AAS WINNER DETAILS
Winner Type: National
Class: Okra
Variety Name: Candle Fire F1
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species: esculentus
Year: 2017
Common Name: Okra
Type: Edible – Vegetable
Breeder: Known-You Seed
Close Market Comparison: Carmine Splendor F1, Red Burgundy
PLANT NEEDS
Duration Type: Annual
Light Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Normal
Season Type: Warm season
Staking Required: No
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Foliage Color: Dark green
Plant Habit: Upright
Plant Height: 4 feet
Fruit Color (Harvest): Red
Fruit Shape: Cylinder
Fruit Size: Diameter 0.6 inches, length 1.5 inches
Fruit Weight: .5 ounces
Fruit Flavor Description: Salad: Crispy and slightly sweet Boiled: soft, tender and with slime
Number of Fruits Per Plant: more than 30
IN THE GARDEN
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Weather Tolerance: Drought, heat
Garden Spacing: 18 inches
Days To Harvest (Sowing Seed): 60
Days To Harvest (Transplant): 30
Plant Spread: 24-28 inches
HOW TO GROW
Plant requires soil with high organic matter content. Sandy and clay soil should be avoided. The cultivation environment should be about (20-35C) 68-95F degrees, sunny and with good ventilation. Direct seed sowing or seedling transplanting are both recommended in cultivation. The seeds should be soaked with water for 12 hours before being sown, which is the necessary process to enhance germination. For home gardener, pruning is not necessary. With proper irrigation, this variety is easy to be managed because it is not susceptible to any special disease. The flower formation starts 50 days after sowing. The fruit can be harvested in 5-7 days after flowering. After the plant starts to bloom, every 10 days it should be supplied with water and fertilizer so as to ensure long-term harvest.
AAS Winners
Jeni Cullen, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH –
An eye-catching plant that always gets the “What is THAT?” question. Pretty yellow, hibiscus-like flowers followed by loads of gorgeous bright red fruit really makes this edible a beautiful ornamental as well.
AAS Display Garden- River Valley Master Gardeners –
Candle Fire is a fantastic okra, especially if one tends to forget to pick regularly. Even the longer okra pods are tender and tasty, not fibrous.
In addition, it is a beautiful plant and doesn’t get huge quickly. Zone 6a