Keep the plants mulched and soil moist for best production. But don’t underestimate their capability to develop quite quickly into strong substantial plants. Okra seedlings look spindly at first, with large leaves at the top that appear to overpower the stem. If seeds are planted too soon, they may just deteriorate in the ground waiting for the soil temperature to warm up. Okra needs warm soil to germinate, so direct sow seeds when the ground gets to about 68 degrees. Start plants 4-5 weeks before desired outdoor planting date. Okra is a warm weather lover, so this is a good plant to consider for starting indoors to get a jump on the maturity date. Okra can be transplanted or direct seeded. This article may contain affiliate links. They don’t care for abrupt changes such as cool temperatures or extended shady conditions. Okra loves consistent full sun and warmth. Consider amending soil with several inches of aged compost or organic matter before planting. It will not do well in soil that has poor drainage. Okra needs fertile loamy soil, evenly moist but not soggy. Out of habit, I still wipe the fuzzy outside of the pod with a towel before eating it. Spineless varieties have been developed that eliminate the spines from the pods, such as the popular Clemson Spineless 80 Okra Seeds. They can be very irritating to some, and not safe for those of us who like to pop a pod off the plant and munch right there. They are like very thin needles that break off and stick to your skin when you handle the pod. Some varieties of okra have pods that grow stiff spines or hairs that stick out from the pod. The okra does double duty by providing a beautiful mallow flower of pale yellow with dark purple throat.
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