Harvest the soft okra every two days, so they don’t become ripe. But leave the smallest ones for the next harvest. If you leave the pods on the plant to become ripe, this takes energy from the plant and slows down new growth. An okra plant whose pods are harvested using a knife allows the plant to grow pods for up to 6 months without causing any infection to the plant. Fresh okra can be stored for up to 3 weeks in a desert fridge without spoiling. By cutting and drying okra in the shade, it can be stored for a year while keeping its nutrients and colour.