How to Grow Winnetka Wonder Okra

First and foremost, you’ll need a spot that gets plenty of sun – the hotter the better. If you are planting in rows, conventional spacing is 18 inches between rows with plants spaced 18 – 24 inches apart. If you use a Square Foot or ‘Grow Bio-Intensive’ techniques, seeds are planted on 18-inch centers. Make a hole about an inch deep with your finger and put a seed in it. Cover with some dirt, pat down, and water. That’s about it. Experts say you should start out with pretty rich soil if you are growing okra. Could be, I guess. I’ve found that okra is not too picky about the soil or water. I’ve never had an insect problem with okra, though I suspect out in the badlands, grasshoppers might do it some damage.

How to Get Your Winnetka Wonder Okra Seeds to Germinate
Non-hybrid okra seeds can have notoriously low germination rates. Scarifying each seed you plant will up the number of seeds that will eventually sprout. A good method is to use toenail clippers to chip away a bit of the hard black seedcoat in order to expose the lighter colored endosperm. Careful. Damaging the endosperm will ruin the seed. The scar needs to be made opposite the seed’s hilum (the seeds’ little belly button).  Here’s a little video describing the process.

 How to Harvest Winnetka Wonder Okra
Okra pods harvested when they are 3 to 4 inches long taste best and are the most tender. This is the best size for pickles. We’ve noticed that, unlike other varieties we’ve grown, Winnetka Wonder pods can be tender at 6 to 10 inches. Use clippers or a knife to cut the pods from the stalks as this will prevent damage to the plant. The ‘itch factor’ is the worst part about harvesting okra . Tiny little “spines” will get on your hands, legs and arms, and drive you berserk. It’s best to wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves when you harvest your okra crop.

How to Save Okra Seeds
Don’t forget our deal – I’ve sent the seeds now you promise to keep Winnetka Wonder going by saving and giving away some seeds from your garden. Saving okra seeds is really easy. All you need do is let a couple of pods keep growing on the stalk until they turn brown, and are brittle and woody. These seed harvest pods can get very long – maybe 10 to 12 inches in length. Pick the pod and shake it. If you hear the seeds rattle inside, you’re good to go. If you don’t hear a rattle, the pod is too wet on the inside, and is no good for seeds. Throw it over the fence. Split the pod along its length with a sharp knife. Pull apart and the seeds will fall right out. There will be several sections of seeds in a pod, so just keep splitting the sections open until you’ve got them all. Spread the seeds out on a paper plate, and let them sit for a couple of weeks – just to make sure they are completely dry. That’s about it. Thank you again for taking part in the WiWoDORI. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.