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When to plant okra
Plant okra 2–5 weeks after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil is at least 70°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid May to early June), zone 7a (late April to mid May) and zone 9a (mid March to early April).
Okra planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant outdoors | okra ready from |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 29 – Jun 19 | Jul 29 |
| 4b | May 27 – Jun 17 | Jul 27 |
| 5a | May 25 – Jun 15 | Jul 25 |
| 5b | May 19 – Jun 9 | Jul 19 |
| 6a | May 14 – Jun 4 | Jul 13 |
| 6b | May 8 – May 29 | Jul 7 |
| 7a | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jun 29 |
| 7b | Apr 20 – May 11 | Jun 19 |
| 8a | Apr 10 – May 1 | Jun 9 |
| 8b | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | May 30 |
| 9a | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | May 16 |
| 9b | Feb 18 – Mar 11 | Apr 20 |
How to plant okra
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 70°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1/2–1 in |
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 50–65 days |
Okra needs real heat: wait until nights stay above 60°F.
Soak seeds overnight to speed germination.
In the South a single planting produces until frost.
When to harvest okra
Cut pods at 2–4 inches long, every other day in summer; they get woody fast.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More vegetables to plant
Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Zucchini · Watermelon · Green beans