How Do You Grow Okra (Hibiscus Esculentus)?
Okra is a great crop for the beginning gardener. They grow well in hot dry areas of the country. A beautiful 3-6 foot tall plant with creamy mallow type flowers. Okra could be grown just for its beauty alone, but that would be a waste of a lot of good okra. One of my favorite varieties is Red Queen. The plant and pods have a beautiful red color without losing any of the tastiness of the okra. How to Sow Okra: Soak okra seeds in warm water for 12 hours before planting. This helps soften the seed coat so they germinate faster. Plant each seed 3/4 inches deep in rows 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart. Seeds will germinate in 2-12 days. Thin plants to 1 foot apart. When planning your garden, consider that okra is a tall plant, and put it somewhere in the garden where its shade won’t be a problem. Okra prefers full sun and really isn’t that picky about soil type. How to Care for Okra in the Garden: When okra is small it is important to keep it weeded. The same is true with watering. It is more importan
