My Okra plants are growing like crazy and the okra is about 2-3 inches long. It's really hard though and pokey. When do I know when they are ready for harvest?

Okra is usually pretty hard at any age. Usually 2-3 inches is the best size...

Have you tried cooking them at this size?

I haven't tried cooking them yet, I'm a little intimidated by the toughness of it. I'll give it a shot though, some are more than 3 inches already.

Some okra is ready to pick when about 2 inches... for some reason my homegrown okra gets 'tough' at a much smaller size than much longer stuff I buy in the store... I have to harvest my okra at about 2 inches or smaller to get it when it's not tough...

Not to be discouraging... it will be good anyway!! so cook some and try different sizes and you'll get a better idea when it's "ready" in your garden...

I like okra too, and have grown it. It seems to ripen really fast. You have to watch it so it doesn't turn tough.