![]() ![]() Water the plants if rain is not expected, but wait a few days before mulching to give the soil a chance to absorb the sun's warmth. Gently remove them from the pot, separate the seedlings, and set them about 10-inches apart. Thoroughly water seedlings an hour before you transplant them. ![]() The seedlings have fragile taproots so handle them carefully, holding them by their leaves so they aren't damaged. But simply soaking your seeds in a wet paper towel for 24 hours before starting them should do the trick, and your okra should germinate within seven days. Seeds can be scarified (scratched or scored) with a file to increase germination rates. The seed coat is thick and hard, inhibiting germination unless the seeds are treated. If the packaging is close to its expiration date, chances are this fussy seed will not germinate. Okra is a warm-weather crop that appreciates basking in full sunlight.Īlways check the package when buying seeds as okra seeds need optimal conditions to germinate. What would we expect a crop from Africa to need? If you guessed hot weather and sunshine, you are correct. To help understand okra, we need to look at where the crop originated, and that is Africa. The end results were quite amazing and delicious. We took them home, planted them in the newly tilled ground, and figured we would see what happened. The owner of the greenhouse gave my sons a few okra plants. I found myself at a local greenhouse late in the season, almost too late, trying to salvage anything they had left for our garden. My husband and I were way behind getting all our edibles planted in the garden. My first experience with planting and harvesting okra came last summer as a fluke. As long as okra seedlings are handled gently, they can be slipped into the garden – or into large containers – just as the hot season begins. And by using seedlings, you can shave three weeks or more from its usual long season. The range of warmth-loving okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus) is steadily making its way north, so it's now possible for gardeners in our area to raise a successful crop. Okra's edible seed pods can be boiled, fried, canned, or used in creole recipes like gumbo. The soil level of the peat pot should be level with the soil level of the row (or raised bed).You may have discovered the health advantages of okra, or you simply enjoy it, or like me, just stumbled upon something that you want to give a try. Check to make sure the okra seedling is not sitting too deep or too high in the hole. Place the okra seedling in the hole you previously dug. I decided to transplant the okra seedling with the peat pot intact. This could hamper the okra growth or even kill the okra plant. You might see a larger root near the center of the pot - do not tear that root. If you decide to remove the bottom of the peat pots or the entire pot be extra careful to avoid disturbing or tearing the roots. This is sometimes the best method for transplanting okra seedlings to avoid disturbing the roots. It will eventually decompose if left in the hole. The okra seedling can be transplanted with the entire peat pot (except the top portion you removed earlier) because the peat pot is entirely biodegradable. You can do one of two things at this point in the transplanting - you can plant the okra seedling with the entire peat pot, you can remove the very bottom of the peat pot, or you can remove the entire peat pot altogether. ![]() To remove the okra seedlings, I simply use a sharp knife and cut each seed cell down both sides to form a small pot. Sometimes it can be difficult to remove the seedlings in the plastic trays without damaging the seedling. The peat pot tray is easy to work with and makes it very easy to remove the seedlings. Removing The Okra Seedlings From The Seed TrayĪs I have shown in the articles for transplanting cucumbers, I prefer to start seeds in a peat pot-based tray. Here is how I transplant okra seedling into the vegetable garden. If you start okra seeds in a seed tray, there are a few things you should know while transplanting them in the vegetable garden. Okra seeds can be started indoors in seed trays four to six weeks before the last frost date of your area. The preferred method of planting okra is by sowing the seeds directly in the vegetable garden. ![]() Many okra varieties can get very tall - sometimes reaching seven feet or more in height. Okra needs warm temperatures, full sun, and can tolerate dry conditions. Okra is not very difficult to grow in the home vegetable garden. ![]()
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