As more gardeners discover that they really like okra, the range of this warm-natured hibiscus cousin is steadily edging northward. Growing okra requires warm weather, but by using seedlings, you can shave 3 weeks or more from its usual long season. As long as okra seedlings are handled gently, as if they were breakable eggs, they can be slipped into the garden – or into large containers – just as the hot season begins.
Family | Malvaceae |
Growing zones | N/A |
Growing season(s) | warm weather |
Spacing | 12 to 24 inches |
Start indoors or direct sow | direct sow, except in cooler climates |
Indoor sowing date | 4 weeks before transplant (2 weeks before last frost) |
Earliest outdoor planting | 2 to 4 weeks after last frost |
Soil temperature | 70° to 95° |
Fall planting | N/A |
Sun needs | 8+ hours |
Water needs | low |
Harvest category | all season |
Preparation Tip: | Though okra lovers praise a good southern-fried okra side dish, okra is also delicious roasted. Toss whole pods in olive oil and sprinkle them with sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake in a 400° oven for 20 minutes. |
Snapshot | Okra is originally from Africa but has become a staple in the southern garden and in southern cooking. Although this gorgeous plant with showy flowers thrives in long, hot summers, many northern gardeners can grow okra with a few adjustments. |
Starting | Okra is best sown directly in the garden. For faster germination, soak seeds overnight and plant in warm soil. Okra can be grown in raised beds that open up to the ground. Its long taproot needs the depth to grow into the native soil. (Grow compact varieties in containers 24 inches deep.) Sow seeds ½ inch deep, 6 inches apart. Thin seedlings to a final spacing of 12 to 24 inches. If you start the seeds early indoors, plant them in a deep container to accommodate the developing taproot. |
Growing | Okra will grow slowly in the early summer but then quicken its growth when daytime temperatures reach the 80s or 90s Fahrenheit, and even higher. Once established, okra is a self-sufficient crop. It tolerates drought but also likes a regular weekly watering. |
Harvesting and Storing | Cut okra pods with pruners when they reach 4 to 5 inches long (some varieties must be cut smaller). Any longer than this and you’ll find them tough and woody (and inedible). During peak season, harvest at least daily (sometimes twice per day). Store the pods in the refrigerator. If you skip a day and the pods grow too big, pick them anyway and compost them, otherwise the plant will slow production. |
Common Problem | Okra doesn’t fall prey to many pests or diseases. When other plants suffer during hot weather, okra shines. One problem many gardeners have is a skin sensitivity to the plant leaves. Wear gloves when harvesting. |
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