Vegetable growing guide
Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
Sun
Full sun
Season
Warm
Maturity
50 to 65 days
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.0 to 7.5
Spacing
12 to 18 in
Planting okra
Sow directly when the soil is genuinely warm, around 70 degrees F, or start indoors 4 weeks early in short seasons. Soaking seed overnight speeds germination.
Planting details
- Spacing: 12 to 18 inches; plants can reach 4 to 6 feet
- Seed depth: about 1/2 to 1 inch
- Production peaks in the hottest weeks of summer
Growing requirements
Okra wants the hottest, sunniest spot in the garden and tolerates drought better than most vegetables. Cool soil and cool nights are the enemy; everything else is easy.
Harvesting and care
Pick pods every day or two at 2 to 4 inches long; they turn woody fast. Wear gloves and long sleeves if the spines irritate your skin.
Common mistakes
- Sowing into cool soil, which rots the seed before it sprouts
- Letting pods mature on the plant, which slows new production
- Planting in shade or a cool microclimate, where it never gets going
Companion plants
Okra shares a bed naturally with peppers, eggplant, and melons, which all want the same heat. Keep it where its height will not shade shorter crops.