How to Save Seeds From Okra
Okra is a staple in Southern cuisine of the United States and a fun vegetable to grow in the garden. It's also one of the easiest vegetables from which to save seeds for spring planting. Also known as gumbo, okra grows tall and is in the same family as the hollyhock and hibiscus. Immature pods are cooked in soups and stews, boiled and fried, and canned for winter delights from the season's garden. Saving your own okra seeds from this year's garden will save you money when you start to plant next year. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Allow a few pods on your best okra plant to stay in the garden beyond maturity.
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Harvest the pods when they turn brown and begin to split. You should be able to hear the seeds rattle when you shake the pods.
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Open the pods to remove the seeds and place the seeds in a bowl.
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Spread the seeds in a pie plate and allow them to dry for 2 to 3 weeks.
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Package the seeds in an envelope and store the envelope in a cool, dry location until time for spring planting. The refrigerator is a great place for storing the seeds.
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Tips & Warnings
Because okra cannot be planted until the soil is quite warm, many gardeners start their okra seeds inside.
Okra does not grow when the soil is cold. These may be among the last seeds you put in the ground each spring. Okra seeds shouldn't be planted until at least 10 days after the season's last frost.
Be sure the okra from which you are harvesting seed is a non-hybrid plant. Seeds saved from a hybrid plant will often produce an offspring that is different than the parent plant and in many instances may not germinate at all.
Okra pods irritate the skin of some gardeners. If you find you are one of them, wear gloves when shelling your okra pods.
