Harvest Type

Okra is a continuous harvest, but you must prune the stalks and remove old pods to keep the plant flowering.

Tip:  Harvest when the okra is small and tender.  If you wait too long, the okra will get too hard and stringy to eat. 

Transplant / Direct Sow

It is best to sow okra seeds directly. The roots are very fragile, and they dislike being disturbed. You can plant seeds indoors in peat pots and then plant the entire pot.

TIP: If using peat pots, be sure to slit the side when you plant the pot and cover the entire pot with soil. Peat pots will wick water away from the roots if not buried.

When to Plant:

Sow seeds directly outdoors 2-3 weeks after your last average frost date.  Okra seeds like 85°F soil temperatures.

Days to germinate

It takes thyme seeds 7-10 days to germinate.

Days to maturity

It takes about 50-65 days for okra to produce a harvest.

Planting Depth

Plant seeds at 1" deep.

Germination Temperature Range

Okra will germinate with soil temperatures in the 85°F range.

Spacing Between Plants

Space okra plants 12" apart. Plant seeds 2" apart and then thin as needed. Rows should be 18-24" apart.

Growing conditions

Okra is an easy plant to grow. It likes well-drained soil and not a lot of water. Sow seeds when the soil temperature reaches 85°F. Plant seeds in fertile soil with aged compost.  Use fertilizer with low nitrogen, e.g. 5-10-10 N-P-K ratio.

Rotation

Rotate okra every year and keep it on a six-year rotation cycle to avoid root pests.

Anticipated yields

Plan your garden yield at 6-10 okra plants per person. Plan on 5-10 pounds of okra per 10-foot of row space. Prune off old pods to keep the stalk flowering. Doing so will increase the yield per plant.

 

Family Sown collections that include okra: