Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) produces long edible pods on 3- to 6-foot-tall plants. It grows as a summer annual vegetable and doesn't tolerate frost. Starting okra plants from seed provides healthy seedlings that will grow into productive plants. The seeds require proper treatment and planting to germinate successfully.
Okra requires moist conditions and a soil temperature near 75 degrees Fahrenheit to sprout successfully. The seeds do not require light to germinate, but the new seedlings must be provided with light soon after germination to grow well. Although the soil must be moist, overly wet soil may cause the seed to rot before it can sprout. Seeds usually germinate within seven days. You can soak the seeds in a bowl of warm water over night the day before you plant to speed up sprouting.
Germinating okra outdoors requires a long growing season because the soil usually doesn't warm up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit until two to three weeks after the last expected frost in your area. Okra requires at least 55 days from planting to produce mature pods. If you plant directly in the ground, sow the seeds 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in a row, setting the rows 36 inches apart. Okra needs well-drained soil and a full six to eight hours of daily sunlight. Keep the seed bed moist until the seeds sprout, then water only once or twice weekly to moisten the top 6 inches of soil before it dries out completely.
Starting the seeds indoors gives you a head start on the growing season. You can also provide the seeds and seedlings with a better-controlled environment to ensure they receive enough light, moisture and warmth. Start the seeds indoors four to five weeks before you will transplant them outdoors so they have time to produce healthy growth. The seeds still require planting at a 1-inch depth. Use small 2- to 3-inch seedling pots and sow only two seeds in each. Keep the soil moist and maintain temperatures near 75 degrees until the okra sprouts. After they sprout, the seedlings require six to eight hours of daily sunlight and watering when the soil surface dries. Thin each pot to one plant when the second set of leaves appears.
Garden-sown okra requires thinning after the seedlings reach 4 to 6 inches tall. Pinch out the extra plants in each row so the remaining plants are spaced 12 inches apart. When transplanting indoor-grown plants, space them at the recommended 12-inch spacing and plant them at the same depth they were growing previously. Young okra plants require about 1 inch of water weekly. Mulching the bed helps conserve moisture and prevents weed growth.
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