{"product_id":"okra-seeds-cicek","title":"Çiçek \"Flower Okra\" (Abelmoschus esculentus) Seeds – Traditional Central Turkish Heirloom, Harvested Young at Flowering Stage","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e10+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Turkish Heirloom Harvested at Bloom\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMost okra gets picked well after the flower has dropped, once the pod has had time to form and grow. Çiçek takes a different approach, a traditional Central Turkish heirloom harvested young, right at the flowering stage, while the pod is still tender and the bloom itself is often still attached. This is a genuinely different way of eating okra, prized in its home region for a texture and flavor that pod-stage harvesting simply can't match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Çiçek Flower Okra?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe heirloom gardener wanting an authentic Central Turkish variety with a genuine tradition.\u003cbr\u003eThe home cook curious about a distinctly different okra texture from flower-stage harvesting.\u003cbr\u003eThe Turkish and Mediterranean food gardener growing an authentic regional ingredient.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Traditional Turkish Heirloom Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbelmoschus esculentus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Çiçek', called flower okra, is a traditional Central Turkish heirloom variety grown and harvested according to a distinct regional practice: picking the pods at the flowering stage, while still very young and tender, often with the yellow bloom still attached or just recently dropped. This early harvest avoids the tougher, more fibrous texture that develops in okra pods left to mature further, yielding a notably tender, mild result prized in traditional Central Turkish cooking. Plants grow similarly to standard okra, producing typical hibiscus-family flowers and ridged pods, but the harvesting method rather than the plant itself is what defines this variety's traditional use. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it breeds true from saved seed. Grown as a warm-season annual, not frost-hardy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Garden \u0026amp; Kitchen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower-stage harvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pick pods right at or just after flowering for the traditional tender texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTraditional Turkish cooking:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use in classic Central Turkish dishes calling for young, flower-stage okra.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrequent picking routine:\u003c\/strong\u003e Check plants often to catch pods at their most tender, early stage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeirloom preservation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grow and save seed to help keep an authentic Turkish tradition in circulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePickling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pickle young, flower-stage pods for a tender, mild pickled okra distinct from standard pickles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed saving:\u003c\/strong\u003e Save seed from open-pollinated pods left to mature fully for the next season's planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Çiçek Flower Okra Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow after last frost, or start indoors 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouts in 7 to 14 days in warm soil; soaking seed overnight can speed germination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germinates best between 75 and 90°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich, well-drained soil with good fertility supports the strongest growth and pod production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Consistent, even moisture, especially during flowering and early pod development.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest timing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pick pods at or just after flowering, notably earlier than standard okra harvest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest frequency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Check plants daily during peak season, since the ideal window is genuinely brief.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowering typically begins 50 to 60 days from seeding, with harvest following quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grown as a warm-season annual; killed by frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is okra grown and harvested by a genuinely different tradition, picked at the flowering stage for a tenderness that standard pod-stage harvesting never achieves. Çiçek carries real Central Turkish culinary history, and it rewards the attentive gardener willing to check plants often and harvest right on time. It's open-pollinated and easy to save seed from, ready to bring an authentic regional practice into your own garden. Grow the okra that's harvested before it's even really an okra yet.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54508692537662,"sku":"11659","price":3.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/Untitleddesign-1457.png?v=1791686906","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/okra-seeds-cicek","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}