Soak Seed Overnight

Getting a good stand of okra is not as easy as with many other vegetables. Soaking seed overnight in water before planting usually results in quicker germination and a better plant stand. Seed generally is planted in the prepared row, or 3 or 4 seeds may be planted in hills at desired spacings. Plant seed at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch, depending on soil type. The deeper planting is for sandier soils. Rows should be 3 to 5 feet apart.

After the seed germinates, thin the plants to a spacing of 1 to 2 feet, depending on the variety. Plant okra where it will get full sunlight.

Weeds and grass should be controlled. Since drought severe enough to affect the growth of okra plants occurs commonly in the South, irrigation may be needed. Too much water may cause excessive vegetative growth of plants and less pod production.

The okra plant and pods may have small spines which some people are allergic to. Plant breeders have developed varieties with fewer spines, especially on the pods. At harvest time wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt or blouse as skin protection. With large plants and hot weather, harvesting okra can be mighty uncomfortable.

Harvest Carefully

Cut the pods with a knife or shears. In any case, harvest very carefully so as not to injure the pods or the plant. Harvest pods when they are large enough to give a good yield but before they become fibrous. This is usually when the pods are about four inches long or between the fourth and seventh day from the time the bloom opens, depending on variety and weather conditions. Preference of the harvester as regards pod size is also a consideration.

The okra pod becomes fibrous from the tip down. To be edible a pod should allow a knife blade to pass through it without providing noticeable resistance. Okra pods that get fibrous or tough on the plant will slow down the plant's growth and decrease yield.

Periods between harvests should be short, usually not over two or three days. Even then there will be considerable variation in the length of pods harvested.

The harvested pods should be handled with care, as they bruise easily. The pods will wilt rather quickly when harvested during warm periods. Therefore they should be used or stored at 45 to 50 F and relatively high humidity as soon as possible after harvest. A home refrigerator provides adequate storage conditions.

Cutting Back

Sometimes when plants get too large they are cut back and allowed to sprout again near the soil surface. If this is done, apply a top-dressing of a readily available nitrogenous fertilizer.

A 25-foot row of okra should produce 25 to 75 pounds of edible pods, depending on variety, care, weather conditions, and length of harvest season.

You can grow your own seed if you raise only one variety of okra and have no near neighbor growing another variety. Late in the season allow a few plants to develop mature seed. After removing seed from the pod, dry thoroughly and store it in the refrigerator in a closed container until the next spring. Then you can be assured of having seed of the kind wanted at planting time.

Stink bug, which damages okra, produces foul odor when annoyed.

Several pests can injure okra, with nematodes probably the most serious. Gardens that have remained in the same location for several years usually are infested with these small round worms. The only remedy is to periodically treat the soil with materials that will kill most of them. Obtain directions for treating soil from your county agent.

With other conditions favorable, a fair crop of okra may be produced despite nematodes. But the harvest season is likely to be shortened.

Wilts may kill or injure okra plants. The organisms that cause wilt are soil-borne and require soil treatment.

Several insects also may cause damage to okra. These include the corn earworm, which eats into the pod, and stinkbugs and ants which are especially troublesome late in the season.

Recommendations for controlling pests vary as new products become available or old ones are taken off the market. Consult your county agent for current recommendations.