Okra are very prolific but I wouldn't necessarily save the seeds from the first blooms. Save the seed from the healthiest most productive plants. A healthy dose of compost would be several shovels full. A few handfuls is nothing. I hope you had your soil tested at your nearest Extension service to see what it may need.

Greenhouser is right - you want to save seed from the plants with the characteristics you want to see in future okra plants you grow - like doing well in your garden, flowering early, good producer etc.

But the first bloom on a given plant will not be genetically distinct from later blooms on that plant, so there's no need to save the first one. In fact at this point in time you don't know which plants are going to produce a good crop. I'd save seed in mid-season when the plants are still very healthy but you're starting to drown in okra. That way any drop in production won't be a worry!

I assume you mean you will be saving the first fruit rather than the first bloom? ;)

I read on GW that leaving the fruits to ripe will tax the plant of nutrients and thus later fruits will not be as vigorous.

Don't know what that claim would be based on. I've never found it to be true. However, I'm guessing that what they meant was that leaving the okra on the vine for a long time - in other words not picking regularly or overlooking some pods for many days - can slow production on the plant as a whole. The plant thinks it is now supposed to go to seed. But for seed saving it isn't necessary to leave it on the plant all that long. Jus give it a couple of extra days on the vine.

Many save the seeds from the first fruits on tomatoes and other vegetables - they feel there is less chance of crossing on those fruit - with no problems with later production. Mu personal preference is to save seeds from a selection of the fruit or vegetable. More than one is always a good idea.

Dave