How to Plant Okra Seeds: Sowing Methods and Steps Explained

Okra is a vegetable with a flowering period from May to September. The flowers are yellow, the capsule is cylindrical and spire-shaped, and the seeds are spherical, 4-5 mm in diameter. Okra can be grown from seed, so how do you plant okra seeds?

1. How do you plant okra seeds?

First, soak the okra seeds for 12 hours, then place them in an environment of 25-30°C to germinate. After about 24 hours the seeds begin to sprout, and when 60%-70% of the seeds have “broken mouth” (split open), sow them in the soil. Water first, then sow after watering, and cover with 2 cm of soil after sowing. Keep the temperature at around 25°C, and the okra seeds will sprout in about 4-5 days.

2. When do you plant okra seeds?

Okra seeds are generally sown in spring, and it is best to sow after the last frost when the soil temperature is above 15°C. In southern China, sowing can be done after February; in the north, sowing can be done in early to mid-May; in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, sowing can be done in early April; and in coastal areas, sowing can be done in late April. If sowing in a greenhouse, it can be done all year round.

3. Can okra seeds be eaten?

Okra seeds are edible. Okra seeds are part of the okra plant and, like eggplant seeds, can be eaten before they mature. As long as the okra is fresh and tender, the okra seeds inside can be eaten directly; old okra seeds are not recommended for eating, as the texture is poor.

Okra seeds are rich in vitamins, especially the strong antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin C. After eating them, they can help scavenge free radicals, increase skin vitality, and slow aging. In addition, okra seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which after eating can lower blood lipids and cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis, and thereby prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.