Planting Okra Seeds

• 1). Scoop a good quality seed-raising planting mix into 3- or 4-inch-wide biodegradable peat pots. Okra plants do not like their roots disturbed. Using peat pots prevents any root disturbance.
  
  
• 2). Mist the seed-raising mix with water until it's saturated with moisture. Let the pots drain some before proceeding.
  
  
• 3). Place the seeds into a shallow bowl. Pour approximately 1 inch of water over the seeds. Soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting, as suggested by Floridata.com. Soaking the seeds will speed up the germination.
  
  
• 4). Poke two 1-inch-deep holes in each of the biodegradable peat pots. You can use a chopstick, a pencil or a pen to make the holes.
  
  
• 5). Drop in one seed into each 1-inch deep hole. Sprinkle a 1-inch layer of seed-raising mix over each of the seeds.
  
  
• 6). Set the pots in a warm and light-filled location but not where they will be subjected to direct sunlight. Near a south- or west-facing window is ideal. Keep the seed-raising mix leaning toward the moist side but never waterlogged. Germination can begin in as few as seven days at a temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  
• 7). Thin the plants to one per pot once seed emerge. Cut off the least hardy seedling, leaving the stronger of the two remaining.
  
  

Transplanting Okra Seedlings

• 1). Locate a warm, sun-filled area for planting the seedlings.
  
  
• 2). Cultivate the soil to make it loose and well-aerated. You can use a shovel or a rototiller if you have one. The soil should be well worked to a depth of about 12 to 14 inches.
  
  
• 3). Incorporate into the soil in the planting area between 1/2 and 1 lb. all-purpose granular fertilizer such as 12-12-12 for every 50 square feet of area you are going to plant.
  
  
• 4). Create rows in the planting area that are about 3 feet wide and approximately 2 feet apart. In the center of each row, dig holes using a trowel that will accommodate both the width and depth of each biodegradable peat pot. Measure the distance from each hole making sure to allow 12 to16 inches between pots.
  
  
• 5). Plant one seedling into each of the planting holes. Use the trowel to push in soil around each seedling tamping it down as you proceed.
  
  
• 6). Water each plant thoroughly with water. Keep the plants well watered, but never water so often that the plants are subjected to flooding. Provide approximately 1 inch of water weekly if there is no rainfall.