Okra seeds should be sown directly into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is passed. Optimum soil temperature (not air temperature) should be 21-23°C (70-75°F) for seeds to germinate. Planting at a lower temperature will delay germination. Okra seeds have a hard shell, to speed up germination, soak seeds in room temperature water overnight. Space seeds and plant to the depth indicated below. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 2.5 cm (1") of soil. After planting, water seeds with a gentle mist or shower. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below. Do not allow the soil to become dry, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions.