okra germination question

I'm trying out okra this year. Never grown it, seen a plant growing anywhere, or eaten it. Just not much of a thing here.

I bought seeds from Experimental Farm Network, the Kandahar landrace.

I soaked the seeds before planting, probably something like 12 or 18 hours. I soaked them so long because so many of them weren't absorbing water at all.  By the end of that time, I was finally starting to see germination on some, so I picked those out and planted them. Then I drained the water off so I wouldn't drown them (I'd been stirring them to get oxygen into the water, but I wanted to be safe) and left them overnight. In the morning a few more had germinated, but probably 40% of so of the seeds still look like they came right out of the package. They haven't absorbed water at all.

I know the seeds can take a long time to germinate, but is this normal for okra?

It sounds like you're doing well. Okra has such a hard seed coating, it may take a while for the water to absorb and get the ball rolling.

When I grow okra, I usually scarify my seeds just a wee bit, then fold them up into a damp paper towel. I find they germinate pretty well (just a few days) that way, and then I transplant into soil.

Stacie Kim wrote:

When I grow okra, I usually scarify my seeds just a wee bit

😲 Wow! I'm way too lazy for that. Maybe I'll try planting the stubborn ones in the fall and see if a cold stratification gets me any volunteers next year...if I remember where I planted them and don't plant something else there. That's more my style 😁

Maybe I'll try planting the stubborn ones in the fall and see if a cold stratification gets me any volunteers next year.

That's not lazy, that's smart!!! Please post back your success with it.