Hello, Dear Sages:

My wife and I recently rose to the top of the waiting list in the local community garden and gained the opportunity to rent a plot.

As we planted a few tomato, basil, cucumber, squash, and pepper plants in our newly rented patch, we noticed eighteen (18) plants that had been previously planted or grown from seed in neat rows along one side of the plot. The former owner is not available to ask what she planted there, and we do not see this type of plant anywhere else in the community garden. As of today, 29 June 2014, each plant is about 9 inches in diameter (when we got the plot, on the 20th of June, they were about half the size). Separation between plants is about a foot.

I am attaching a couple of images taken today of the mystery plant.

Can you please help us identify it?

Thank you.

Mark and Kate

Okay. We're offering a try at a reply to our own question: it may be a form of edible hibiscus. The link at

http://www.al.com/living/index......

includes descriptions and pictures that provide the closest match to anything we've found on the internet. Alternatively, it may be a form of okra.

Thanks for any ideas or experiences you sages have.

Mark and Kate

Now we are thinking it may be red okra http://www.sherckseeds.com/pag......

Apparently, another member, Greene, has reported having Red Burgundy Okra: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus 'Red Burgundy')