We raised okra in the garden three years ago. I am fond of okra.
One thing I learned, when they start to produce, harvest daily when they're around three inches in length. Very tender and tasty.
Wait too long and they're only good for craft projects to dry out and make rattles out of with the loose seeds inside the pod. As they dry out, they split at the lengthwise ridges and expose the white underlay, creates a striking striated green and white effect you can then varnish after sure they're bone dry. Drill the stem at the cap and mount on a nicely branched bough and add feathers or yarn. Great rhythm makers.
RCJ