Okra: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how do you sow okra under warm cover?
Sow okra under cover in spring, with a warm, bright place available for the seedlings until they move to their final position. An unheated greenhouse or a roof alone does not guarantee enough warmth. Avoid sowing so early that plants must wait in small pots for a long time because outdoor conditions remain unsuitable.
Use small individual pots or reasonably deep modules filled with pre-moistened, free-draining seed compost. You can soak seeds in lukewarm water for about two hours before sowing to help moisten their hard seed coats. Sow one seed per container about 1–2 cm deep, then cover. Keep the compost evenly moist without saturating it: allowing germinating seeds to dry out does not help them.
Maintain steady warmth above 16 °C and check the actual temperature rather than relying on a sunny window alone. If you cover the pots, remove the cover after emergence and provide plenty of light. Avoid transplanting with bare roots; move plants with their rootballs into larger pots if needed. Before moving outdoors, wait until frost risk has passed and conditions are sufficiently warm. In a cool region, growing on in a greenhouse may remain the better option.
When and how do you plant young okra?
When and how do you harvest okra?
