It's best to water okra in the morning so that the plants have time to dry before nightfall. This will help to break the seed coat. Thank you. Sometimes the flower does not open, yet inside it is self-pollinating and a day later or so the wilted petals fall down without opening and still the fruit grows. All Rights Reserved. "Very informative, from germinating to harvesting okra. Space the rows 3-4 feet apart as okra plants can grow to be quite tall. Plant your okra seeds 2 inches deep in light soil and 1 inch deep in heavy soil; space out planting holes at about 3 inches apart rows that are 3 feet apart. Ask for the dwarf okra variety that will not grow higher than 1.5 meters (5 feet). Caring for Okra Plants: Place your okra seeds into the freezer and allow them to cool overnight. What can happen if you spray water directly on the plants and not on the soil? ", "Explanation from the beginning to each stage and pictorial representations are really awesome and helpful. Once planted, give the okra an inch of water every week, and be sure to weed and place compost around the plants often. ", "I found the vido most helpful in explaining the type of soil to use and how to care for the plants. Plant your okra seedlings in fertile, well-drained soil and choose a spot with full sunlight. ", "Easy to understand written instructions and helpful pictures. Sow the okra seeds ½ inch deep in light soil and 1 inch deep in heavy soil. Okra pods continue to increase in size when left on the plant beyond the edible stage. Okra should be planted nine to 12 inches apart in rows spread three to six feet apart. For tips on treating the soil and harvesting your okra, read on! If it gets too mature, it will be stringy and tough. The raw pods of okra can be applied to the forehead or nose to make a quick Halloween mask. There is no need to cover the pots to germinate okra seeds. If the pods get too big, they will become woody and tough. It helped me know how to care for my shamba. Then let a few pods dry on the plant at the end of the season before frost. Backyard gardeners can adapt this technique to a small site by interplanting with a tall crop like corn. Filed Under: Okra Tagged With: growing okra, growing okra from seed, okra seeds, planting okra, Your email address will not be published. Not quite! You can speed up the seedlings' growth by soaking the seeds in tepid water overnight. ", "The numerous tips and details on how to grow successful okra, many of which I did not know. Guess again! Try using organic composts like well rotted cow manure and mixing it into your soil. The short answer is because your seeds were designed to be abused. The kinds of pests that might occur include aphids, thrips, mites, and grubs. Thanks. Okra is a self-fertilizer, but is also able to be pollinated by insects. When the sun starts beating down on the okra plants, the water will act as a magnifying glass and burn the okra leaves. "The details on how to plant it and the many uses of it helped. Instead, dry the seeds in the open air for a few days, then store them in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. I will refer to them as my okra, "I am a beginner in planting vegetable at my home in pots. Viral infections mainly include the yellow vein mosaic virus and the leaf curl virus; fungal diseases include Fusarium, Cercospora, Phytium, Choanephora, Verticillium, Mildew, and Botrytis. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Okra planting is done manually or by the use of seed planters. Push the seeds down about a half inch into the soil and water them until the soil is moist, but not soggy. You can pick it as small as you like. Wait until the end of the growing season to save the fruit for seeds. There’s a better option out there! Put them in a warm, sunny room or use grow lamps to keep them warm during the germination period. For a good fall crop, plant at least 3 months before the first fall frost. ", "Well articulated refreshers for home gardening. Okra is generally planted from seed sown directly into the garden when the soil reaches 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Varieties of okra for high heat and low humidity areas (such as the low desert of Arizona) include Becks, Emerald Green… -Kevin B. The sun will glance off the water droplets and destroy the plant, which is why only watering the soil is safer for your okra. Not exactly! Pick out a plant that blooms early and produces lots of well-formed pods. In short, seeds have developed over millions of years with defenses to survive awful conditions. Try using something that contains neem or azadirachtin. Because of the aggressive and expansive root system I mentioned above, 12-18” spacing will increase your yields (don’t skimp on the spacing). Plant okra in the spring or early summer once the threat of frost has passed. Gardening Channel. Your posting and pictures were informative. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transfer them into 9cm (3½in) pots of multipurpose compost, maintaining minimum night temperatures of 15°C (60°F). I didn't know how it was so helpful in many aspects. Determine how to start your seeds. If the pod cuts easily and smoothly with a knife, it will be good. Guess again! Pick the pods when they're ready to avoid pests eating them before you can. Your email address will not be published. The Okra seeds should be sowed at a depth of ½ to 1 inch in each pot. So it worth reading and getting knowledge.Thanks. Okra plants like rich well drained soil as they are heavy feeders, but will tolerate poor soil. You may even need to harvest twice per day to keep up with growth at the peak of the season. This is true, but there are also other times to harvest okra. If your last frost is in late spring, you shouldn't wait until it's over to start your seeds. Copyright © 2020. Choose a plant that produces about 3-5 pods. It's related to the hibiscus plant and produces similarly beautiful flowers. Soak the Seeds Okra is easy to grow but the seeds have a hard coat that can slow germination. The plants won't typically begin rotting if you get water on the plants and leaves. Push the seeds down about a half inch into the soil and water them until the soil is moist, but not soggy. There is no need to cover the pots to germinate okra seeds. Keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Almost! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Water the soil to a depth of six inches just after transplanting the pods into their new homes. For the best yields, plant okra in the spring 2 to 3 weeks after all danger of frost has passed. The picture showing where to cut is helpful. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. ", "This was very helpful. Any water left on the leaves can act as a magnifying glass and burn the leaves. Mother Nature is not kind to a little seed. Pick a location in the garden that receives a lot of sun, keeping the soil temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees F. Test the soil with a soil test kit. Prior to planting, soak the okra seeds in water for 12 to 18 hours to soften its hard seed coat. If you start your seeds outside too early, you risk the seeds and sprouts freezing to death. The first step toward growing okra is to get the seeds of course. What can I do? Okra plants prefer a soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.5. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-okra/, http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2112, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You might want to wear gloves and long sleeves when you harvest the okra. Also about pests and tips to increase yield by harvesting. Start okra seeds directly in the patch you have prepared in your greenhouse about three to four weeks ahead of the last frost date for your region. Water pods once per week about one inch deep. Plant 1/2 inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Plant two seeds into each pot. If you can’t wait, make sure to plant them in black containers on shelves and keep the temperature high inside your greenhouse. When planting, sow seeds at ½ to 1-inch deep into the soil, spaced at 12 to 15 inches apart within a row and 24 to 36 inches between rows. 2. QUESTION: Can we grow okra from fresh seeds? If many of your seeds sprout, thin them by pulling the smaller, weaker seedlings. How do I prepare okra if I've never eaten it before? Not quite! If necessary, make some amendments to the soil before planting to get the pH level into okra’s sweet spot. A heat or sunlamp may help with germination if you don’t have a window that gets full sun available. In colder climates, you can start your seeds indoors in a peat starter. However, if you water the soil and there isn't enough drainage, the plants can rot from the standing water. Spacing okra plants 3' apart with 8' between rows allows more sunlight to reach the plants. In warmer climates, you'll often need to harvest your okra pods every day. Is that out of ordinary? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. See more below on seed preparation. Germination process takes 5 to 10 days post sowing and the substrate needs to remain soaked in water until germination. They fall off or I trim off every day. By using our site, you agree to our. If you wait too long, you'll miss the prime growing season for okra. Choosing the okra seeds. Soak seeds for 2 hours in warm water before planting. Harvest the pods when they are 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long. In a large pan over medium heat, toast ajwain seeds in olive oil. With their hard shells, okra are sometimes slow to germinate. Really useful. In the wild, a seed can expect to encounter harsh heat and cold, very wet or dry conditions and may even need to survive the acid-filled digestive tract of an animal. Plant the okra seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in the row (Fig. Just know that plain boiling may make it slimy. Seeds can also be germinated in the airing cupboard – put the pot in a polythene bag, check daily and remove the pot as soon as germination takes place. If you’re saving seeds for genetic preservation of a rare variety, save seeds from 25 plants. Excess nitrogen will favor leaf production at the expense of pod production. Read on for another quiz question. In fact, you can grow any okra variety in a pot, but it is suitable if you choose the dwarf one. 2). Space the rows at least 3 feet apart. To grow okra, start by tilling the soil with fertilizer, and plant the seeds in a sunny spot in your garden. Try another answer... Yup! ", "I like the step-by-step guidelines and the pictures. How to Grow Okra How to plant okra seeds: Planting okra seeds is easy and a great way to get started early on the growing season. Pay attention to the length of the okra pods. You can also side dress with more bagged fertilizer or slow release fertilizer. Four or five plants should produce enough okr… You're not wrong, but there's a better answer! ", "Clear, very comprehensive, well diagrammed. The plants grow out like a bush instead of upright. You can buy okra seeds at your nearest nursery (or possible home improvement store) or you can take okra seeds by cutting the okra itself. The plants will take 50 to 60 days to produce seed pods that can be harvested. For the best results germinating your okra seeds, soak them in water for a day or two before planting, or put them in the freezer overnight the night before planting them to help break the seed wall. When you harvest a pod, another grows in its place. Required fields are marked *. In northern climates, plant okra indoors four to six weeks prior to the last frost date. ", several other sites. To ensure viable seeds, save seeds from at least 1 plant. I used to cut okra from the stem or branch of the okra. To prevent the seeds from rotting, the soil should have warmed to at least 65 degrees. Okra (lady finger) Learn How to grow Okra plant, Growing Okra in a pot, lady finger planting and care, Pests and diseases, and more about this vegetable. Drying Okra on the Plant 1. ", "Watering every day and adding nutrients thrice in its lifetime made a big difference in the produce. This article received 22 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Okra is a vegetable that keeps on giving all summer long. or brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, etc.). If the water stands in the garden bed overnight, it could cause the plants to start rotting. Peat pods are starter pods that are already filled with soil, making them perfect for beginner gardeners. First, you will need to prepare the site you have chosen to plant your okra seeds. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Grow-Okra-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Okra-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Grow-Okra-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1258113-v4-728px-Grow-Okra-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"