How to Grow Okra: Planting, Care and Harvest

Okra is a hot-weather vegetable: sow it only after the soil reaches 65°F (18°C), thin the seedlings, and start picking 2–3 inch (5–8 cm) pods about 60 to 70 days after planting. UGA calls it a warm-season vegetable and Clemson says it grows best between 75°F and 90°F (24–32°C), so cold, wet soil is the main way to fail. Once it is growing, the main chore is picking every other day. Where sources disagree, we show each number.

Sun

Full sun, with good air movement

Water

Moderate

Days to harvest

60–70 days after planting (Clemson, UGA)

Origin

Africa

Planting depth

¾ in. (Clemson) · 1 in. (UGA, Texas A&M)

Spacing

Thin to 1 ft (Texas A&M) · 1.5–2 ft (UGA)

Season

Warm season · soil at least 65°F

USDA zones

Not stated by our sources

When to plant okra

The rule is soil temperature, not the date. UGA says to plant only when soils have warmed to at least 65°F at a 4 in. (10 cm) depth, and Clemson says gardeners should hold off if the soil is cooler. Clemson also gives the best germination range as 70–95°F (21–35°C). Texas A&M says to plant in spring 2 to 3 weeks after all danger of frost has passed, and that a fall crop should go in at least 3 months before the first fall frost.

NC State adds a second route for cool springs: if growing from seed, make sure temperatures stay above 55°F (13°C), or start the seed indoors. Our growing okra from seed guide covers sowing in detail.

What the sources disagree on

Four extension sources cover okra, from South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and North Carolina, and they do not match on every figure. Here is the spread, so you can pick a number knowing what it rests on.

Wherever you land inside these ranges you are following an extension recommendation. The day-count gap is the one most worth noticing. NC State’s four months fits a slow, cool start better than a hot one, though its page does not say that.

A season in the okra bed

The sequence our sources describe runs like this.

1. Soil warms to 65°F (18°C) at 4 in. depth. Seeds go in, ¾–1 in. deep (UGA, Clemson).
2. Seedlings emerge and are thinned. Cold, wet soil is when root-decay diseases kill seedlings (Clemson).
3. About 2 months after planting. Okra produces large flowers (Texas A&M).
4. About 60 to 70 days after planting. First pods, 2–3 in. long (Clemson, UGA). Pick at least every two days from here.
5. Hot weather. The plant grows best at 75–90°F (24–32°C), and Clemson says to water frequently during high heat.

Because okra only starts when the soil is warm, it suits the middle of the season, not the start. Texas A&M adds that a fall crop should be planted at least 3 months before the first fall frost.

Okra varieties

Clemson lists five varieties for South Carolina. Our sources give no days to harvest or flavor notes for them individually, apart from one detail on color.

How to plant okra

1. Wait for warm soil. At least 65°F (18°C) at 4 in. (10 cm) deep. Cold, wet soil promotes the root-decay diseases that kill seedlings (Clemson).
2. Choose a sunny, drained spot. Full sun, fertile and well-drained soil (Texas A&M). Clemson says good air movement helps reduce pod rot. Follow a soil test to keep pH between 5.8 and 6.5 (Clemson).
3. Sow the seed. ¾ in. deep per Clemson, 1 in. per UGA and Texas A&M. Clemson spaces seeds 9–12 in. (23–30 cm) apart in rows 3–6 ft apart, and notes that many gardeners plant several seeds per hole.
4. Thin the seedlings. Leave one plant per hole (Clemson). Final spacing is about 1 ft (Texas A&M) to 1.5–2 ft (UGA).
5. Water through dry spells. A deep soaking of 1–1.5 in. (2.5–4 cm) every 7–10 days when it stays dry (UGA).

Okra care

Okra in pots is a question our sources do not answer; see what we can and cannot say in growing okra in containers.

Common okra problems

NC State also lists aphids, corn earworms, slugs, whiteflies and spider mites among okra’s insect pests.

Harvesting and storing okra

Harvest pods when they are 2–3 in. (5–8 cm) long. Clemson says they are still tender at that size, and that okra grows so quickly it must be harvested at least every two days. UGA agrees on the 2–3 in. size at 60–70 days. NC State says pods reach 3 in. approximately 4 months after sowing, so allow for slower growth in cool conditions.

Okra is not cured. Clemson says to store fresh pods in a moist environment at 45–50°F (7–10°C). UGA says okra keeps in the refrigerator for about seven days, while Texas A&M says 3 to 5. Our okra harvesting guide has more.

Okra is one of several crops that wait for warm soil. Sweet potatoes also want soil above 65°F, as explained in our sweet potato guide, and peanuts need 65°F too; see the peanut growing guide.