How to Grow Okra Indoors

Okra is usually grown outdoors in climates that are warm and sunny. In other climates, okra can be grown indoors to provide gardeners with this vegetable at any time of the year. Okra seeds can be planted indoors to grow the plant in a controlled environment. That can be kept at a steady temperature. To plant okra seeds, start with commercial potting soil and a plant pot that has drainage holes in the bottom.

Things You'll Need

• Potting soil
• Seedling pots
• Okra seeds
• Plastic wrap
• Plant pot

Instructions

1. Put some potting soil into seedling pots and moisten the soil. Seedling pots are small, biodegradable pots that are about two inches in diameter. They provide the proper drainage and will not hamper any root growth.

2. Plant the okra seeds about an inch deep. Press the soil over the seeds, but avoid packing the soil to keep the soil on top of the okra seeds loose. This will allow the seeds to come into contact with the soil while providing the aeration they need. Each seedling pot should have a few seeds.

3. Place plastic wrap over the pots to keep the solid moist and the environment around the okra seeds humid.

4. Thin out the seedlings that grow to leave one strong okra plant in each seedling pot. Remove the weaker plants by pulling them gently from the soil to avoid disturbing the strongest seedling in the pot.

5. Remove the plastic and move the seedlings to a place that will be kept in a warm, sunny area. This can be near a window that gets direct sunlight or it may be under a UV light. If you use UV lights, they should be turned off at night to simulate natural conditions.

6. Transplant the seedlings into a larger pot once they are about 3 inches tall. The plants should be planted about 12 inches apart. Water them regularly to keep the soil moist. To grow one plant in each pot, the plant pots should be at least 12 inches in diameter. To plant several plants together, use a pot that is large enough to provide each plant with 12 inches of growing space.

7. Fertilize the plants with a water soluble fertilizer about once a week to encourage each okra plant to grow and produce.

References

• National Gardening Association
• Veggie Gardening tips