Why is my okra so tough?? Even the small ones are too tough to cut

Where do you live? Are you having a cool summer? How big are your okra when you pick them?

Okra is best when the pods are picked while still young and tender.

I only grew Okra one season but I was surprised at how young one had to pick them. If not they really were like wood and weren't even really big yet.

I grow an Okra variety that claims to stay tender to about 6 inches but it has been my experience that 2 inches or less is still best. I asked about the cool summer because if the okra takes too long to get to 2 inches, even at that size, it's tough.

Where you live ? Is good to know.
Hear in fresno California. Its hot and dry. Clemson spineless is variety.
It ill grow 4 to 5 inches long. Sometimes ! Opps ! 😬 I missed you yesterday ! The guys 6 or 7 inches ! But tender. 50/50.
So its either. Varierty or your zone !

Daisy, thank you for stating a measurement to give at least some kind (ANY kind!) of an idea of what might be expected. It irks me endlessly, that people can be so vague, yet expect to be understood specifically. If only we could just listen to ourselves more......
And to be fair, this observation is equally applicable to toe opening poster, too.... how small is "small"?

Mine were a type of dwarf Okra that were good for growing in really big pots. I had to pick those pods small. Around 2 inches?

All Okra is different. Weather and growing conditions play a huge part also. You may be picking yours at 1 inch.

It's difficult to answer a question without sufficient information. I think we are still waiting for @rshown to let us know where he or she lives/gardens, what variety of Okra and what the weather/water/temperature conditions were for their Okra.