What to do with your okra seeds

SPROUT distributed 250 packets of saved okra seed for the Spring 2022 planting season- did you get one? Read on!

From Seed Saver’s Exchange:

Because okra germinates and grows best when planted in soil that has warmed above 80 degrees F, northern gardeners often start seeds in flats and transplant seedlings when the weather heats up. In warmer regions of the country, seeds are often direct-sown. Nicking the seed coat of okra seeds can help improve germination rates. Sow okra seeds ½ inch deep. When direct-sowing okra, space seeds 2 inches apart and thin to a final spacing of 12-18 inches apart.

Okra pods are harvested for eating when they are young and immature, just after the flowers fade. Okra pods can be harvested every few days with pruning shears or a sharp knife. If pods are longer than 5 inches, they might be tough, though there are some varieties that grow longer than others and these may still be tender.

Well suited to tropical and subtropical climates, okra is often associated with the Deep South, but it can be cultivated - even to seed maturity - throughout much of the United States. And okra’s ability to self-pollinated makes it a suitable crop for beginner seed savers, provided it receives the heat that it needs to flower and set seeds.

Okra Seeds Are Special

The seeds you have were saved by our community gardeners just for you. Seed genetics change based on pollination with other okra plants and pure chance. We’d love to see how your okra turns out and help you save and share the seeds from it, too! Email pictures of your okra to gardens@sproutnola.com so the story can continue.