My friend gave me quite a few Little Lucy okra pods. Some seeds were withered black little lumps that I tossed out,I got about 25-30 nice chubby round brown seeds for my garden next year but the others I planned on trading off,after drying are fairly round but only went from white to light brown. My question is...do you think these last seeds will viable?
Peggy
Okra seeds
Were the pods mature, dry and crispy? If they were just okra pods that were a bit overgrown, I'm not sure as to the viability. Okra seeds when dry and mature should be sort of an olive drab color. If you have color change after they are harvested, they may not be mature.
I've got some pods I haven't opened and removed the seeds yet, I'll get a shot of them today and post what I have so that you can compare them. I know that these are good as they get saved every year.
Red. quick and dirty way to find out. Punch a couple of holes in a styrofoam or paper coffee cup, fill with a good soilless mis, plant 3-4 seeds wet the medium well and set in a warm window. If they are viable you should get sprouts in short time. Note however that Little Lucy is a hybrid, so you should not trade them as Little Lucy. As Melody said, the pods should have dried on the plant and been an olive drab color from the git go.
no,she didn't allow them to dry and gave them to me green. Iwas just about to try sprouting them put I'm up to my armpits in making xmas ornaments and wrapping presents today.
I'll just offer them as dwarf burgundy okras if they turn out to be ok.
If they were green, then your viability % is going to be pretty low. Okra needs to dry on the plant for best results.
ok
my okra seeds are black....Clemson Spineless....
Okra seeds that are viable and mature.
Mature and properly dried okra pods with seeds that are ready to harvest. Note that the pods start to split a bit and the seeds are visible.
When the seeds rattle in the pods (while still on the plant) you can be assured that they are mature and the majority will germinate when they are planted.
guess I can throw out these light colores ones.
Do a germination test just to see, I'd hate to see you throw out good seeds. That way you'll know for sure.
I put 5 seeds on damp paper towel ,in baggie ,under light on heat mat TWO days ago. Out of 5 -2 germinated.Not a very high percetage rate but at least some germinated and FAST! Iwould have put them back to see if any more would germinate but they rolled off the paper towel and down into the chair cushion...OOPS!
Yeah, Melody,
That's exactly what my seed pods looked like, completely by accident as I had neglected the plant! Got many, many good seeds. When's the best time to plant okra seeds for next spring?
As soon as the ground warms well and after the last frost. Our last frost date is April 15, i usually plant okra around the first week of May.
Thanks, Melody!