How to save okra seeds?

lurley · August 12, 2011

This is my first year growing okra. I have some beautiful pods on my Louisiana round green velvet okra that look ready to pick. My question is, can I save seeds from these or do I have to let them sit on the plant and get "old" before I will have viable seeds. These seeds were hard for me to find, so I want to save them and need to know when they are viable and if there is any special process for saving them. Thanks in advance.

Worth1 · August 12, 2011

Let the last of the pods dry out and then collect the seeds.

I just save them in Ziploc bags.

No real special treatment for them I can let the things go to seed and till them up, The next year they will sprout any time they get moist.

I had to use round up on 40 acres of them to get them killed off for a pecan grove.
Even then they would come back every year.

Worth

lurley · August 12, 2011

Thanks worth! I wasn't sure how it would grow here in zone 5 but here is my first harvest today. my next question is, does this look like the variety I planted? Louisiana round Emerald green velvet? My first time growing it so want to make sure it looks like the right variety.

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Worth1 · August 12, 2011

It looks just like Louisiana green velvet to me. I dont know where the round part comes in.

This is my favorite Okra to grow.
If you keep it watered and fertilized the pods will grow fast and be tender up to 6 inches or so.

Contrary to what some people have said on this forum Okra is a mallow and kin to the hibiscus it likes a moist fertile soil.

Just let the pod mature and dry out on the plant at the end of the year to collect seeds.

Worth

b54red · August 12, 2011

I have been saving my okra seed for a few years. I wait til the end of the season and let the pods grow really big and stay on the plant til they are dry. Make sure to pick them as soon as you see any splits in them or most of the seed will fall out on the ground as the pods split open. Once they turn brown or gray and look pretty dry it is better not to let them get rained on too much so if rain is forecast then go ahead and clip them off. After I pick them I let them dry for a few more weeks inside and then break them and spill the seeds into a container to keep til the next year.

lurley · August 14, 2011

So I'm guessing out of this harvest, 2/3 is too large and will be tough. Will have to pick more often and get smaller ones in the future. Any good use besides compost for the large ones? Think the chickens will eat them?

roper2008 · August 14, 2011

Looks good. I will be saving a lot of seeds from my hill country red okra.

TexasSue · September 25, 2011

I save my seed like 54Red above does. Let them grow big,they will start looking dead and then pick the pod before it splits open ... If you get a chance try Cowhorn okra as its also a heirloom like Louisiana Green . I LOVE Okra with my Maters !!

August 12, 2011	#1
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	How to save okra seeds? This is my first year growing okra. I have some beautiful pods on my Louisiana round green velvet okra that look ready to pick. My question is, can I save seeds from these or do I have to let them sit on the plant and get "old" before I will have viable seeds. These seeds were hard for me to find, so I want to save them and need to know when they are viable and if there is any special process for saving them. Thanks in advance.

August 12, 2011	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Let the last of the pods dry out and then collect the seeds. I just save them in Ziploc bags. No real special treatment for them I can let the things go to seed and till them up, The next year they will sprout any time they get moist. I had to use round up on 40 acres of them to get them killed off for a pecan grove. Even then they would come back every year. Worth

August 12, 2011	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have been saving my okra seed for a few years. I wait til the end of the season and let the pods grow really big and stay on the plant til they are dry. Make sure to pick them as soon as you see any splits in them or most of the seed will fall out on the ground as the pods split open. Once they turn brown or gray and look pretty dry it is better not to let them get rained on too much so if rain is forecast then go ahead and clip them off. After I pick them I let them dry for a few more weeks inside and then break them and spill the seeds into a container to keep til the next year.

August 14, 2011	#6
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	So I'm guessing out of this harvest, 2/3 is too large and will be tough. Will have to pick more often and get smaller ones in the future. Any good use besides compost for the large ones? Think the chickens will eat them?

August 14, 2011	#7
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	Looks good. I will be saving a lot of seeds from my hill country red okra.

September 25, 2011	#8
TexasSue Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Z8 Posts: 24	I save my seed like 54Red above does. Let them grow big,they will start looking dead and then pick the pod before it splits open ... If you get a chance try Cowhorn okra as its also a heirloom like Louisiana Green . I LOVE Okra with my Maters !!