Okra is planted directly for its fruit, but sowing many seeds per hole limits growth and yield. To obtain good okra seedling, begin with quality seed and carry out good management practices.
Obtaining quality seed
You can obtain good quality seed by either buying improved seed or getting seed from local varieties. To obtain seed from local varieties, identify plants with big and strong stems and harvest seeds of large fruits. Before ripe fruits fall then open the fruits and select the biggest, undamaged and unblemished seeds. After obtaining the seeds, dry them in a shade on clean drying surface and store in air and moisture tight container away from light.
Field practices
Okra grows in all kinds of soil even without fertilizer and can be grown both in open field and raised beds at a spacing of 40x 80cm. For better yield, establish your garden in the sun and do primary tillage to open up the soil. Before planting, seed can be pre germinated then 2-3 seeds planted per hole at a 2cm depth and covered with soil. If planted on beds, water after sowing and after plant establishment, do the mulching.
