Planting Okra Seeds

The okra plant is related to hibiscus and hollyhock.

Okra can be successfully grown in most parts of the country, but it is especially common in the Southern United States where the tender vegetable is fried, boiled, baked or steamed, or used in a variety of regional dishes, including soups, stews and gumbos. Okra plants have ornamental value in the garden as well, producing attractive foliage and flowers that resemble hibiscus blooms. Plant okra seeds two weeks after the last frost in spring, as okra won't germinate in cold soil.

Things You'll Need

• Spade
• General purpose garden fertilizer
• Okra seeds
• Bowl
• Hoe
• Shears or sharp knife

Instructions

1. Prepare a sunny spot in your garden. Spade the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, and then dig a general-purpose garden fertilizer into the soil. Use approximately 1 to 2 lbs. of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of planting area.

2. Soak the okra seeds in a bowl of lukewarm water overnight before planting day. Soaking isn't required, but it promotes faster germination.

3. Create a shallow row with the tip of your hoe, and then plant the okra seeds in the row, allowing 4 to 6 inches between each seed. Cover the seeds with 1 inch of soil.

4. Water the seeds immediately after planting, and then keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. Okra is drought-resistant and requires little water after germination but benefits from a weekly soaking during extended periods of hot, dry weather.

5. Thin the okra when the seedlings are about 3 inches tall. Pull the weakest seedlings, leaving one plant every 18 to 24 inches.

6. Harvest okra when the pods are 2 to 4 inches long, usually less than a week after the plant flowers. Allowing okra to remain on the plant longer results in tough, fibrous okra. Cut the pods from the plant with shears or a sharp knife, working carefully to avoid bruising the tender pods. Harvest okra every other day and don't let old pods remain on the plant, as that prevents the plant from producing additional blooms.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Okra
• Iowa State University Extension; Growing Okra in the Home Garden; Richard Jauron; April 13, 2005