Commercially introduced by us in the U.S.
Phonetically pronounced: yell-oh-wa -ak-coy bamya tohumu
Widely known as Sultani among growers, Yalova Akköy is one of the most popular Turkish okra varieties. Vigorous plants produce long, light green pods in 45-50 days. Pods hardly get fibrous, and are not as slimy as most other varieties, when pickled. If you want to make a meal out of okra, we also recommend you to soak the sliced pods in lemon-water before cooking, to take the slime away.
Co-owner Mehmet Öztan typically harvests the pods the way his mom would buy the pods from the grocery store. Mehmet says: “I pick the long, slender pods for the best flavor and tenderness.”
This okra was unanimously picked by all 15 judges as the winner of a taste test among 60 okra varieties, conducted in 2018 by Chris Smith for his comprehensive book about okra, The Whole Okra: A Stem to Stem Celebration.
Many thanks to folks, specifically Leah Smith, at Sow True Seed for making it possible to have substantial seed stock grown for this okra so that we can offer it in our catalog.
Our current seed stock was grown by Browntown Farms of Freeman, VA.
- 12 hrs
- Planting depth: 1/2-1"
- Sprouts in 10-14 days
- Ideal Growing Temperature: 75-90F
- Plant Spacing: 18-24"
- Frost hardy: No
- Growth habit: Tall plants
- Abelmoschus esculentus
- Growing tips: Soak seeds in water for 24 hrs before seeding. Direct-seed after last frost in spring. Pick pods when young. Use gloves to pick dry pods when you save seeds.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
I gifted these seeds to a friend in the Norfolk Virginia Area in the spring of 2021. He said the germination rate was 100% and that the okra flavor and productivity was excellent.
Deborah Reichman (verified owner) –
This was my second year growing this variety of okra. It is so productive and the plants grew to over 12 feet tall. I hope Yalova Akkoy, as well as the other two Turkish okras, continues to be offered every year.
Nikki (verified owner) –
Very prolific and tasty. Be prepared, they get super tall.
Courtney Archer (verified owner) –
They are absolutely delicious. I didn’t get them planted early enough for a long harvest, but what I have been able to harvest are fantastic.
Gerald (verified owner) –
I live in Western NC, 2400′ elevation. My soil is good but not great, with a fair amount of clay. I grew 5 kinds of okra last year and by far Yalova; best germination, tallest!! and longest bearing of the 5. Good non-fibrous texture.
Bob (verified owner) –
Same as above.
Pankaj (verified owner) –
Maral E. (verified owner) –
Iowa, United States
Excellent performance, vigorous plants and great tasting okras, like the ones I am used to eating in Turkey.
Gerald A. (verified owner) –
North Carolina, United States
Of the five varieties of Okra I have grown, this one is my favorite purchased from Two Seeds. This was a rough weather year for us in NC but these germinated and grew well. I will only grow one variety next year: Yalova Akkoy from Two Seeds in a Pod!