Okay some questions for you okra growers, how do you pick the stuff?  The stems are so hard I've been sawing them w/ a serrated (sp) knife, but I'm worried about the knife slipping when I finally get through the stem and damaging the plants.  Also leads to another question, what size do you harvest for best eating if I pick some to give to family?  I know I probably let these first ones get to big, since I didn't realize they were even there (my plants are extrememly bushy).  How big / ripe do they need to get for me to save seed (dry on the plant?) if I let them go to seed will the plant stop producing new pods? or die back?  A lot of the plant stalks (main ones) are as big around as my elbow or ankle.  If I pick them extremely tiny like the tiny corn at oriental restaraunts will they be less slimey?