How to Grow Okra Plants

Growing Okra Plants in Your Vegetable Garden

Certainly, if you live in the southern states, you know what Okra is. If you’re a southern gardener, you’re growing okra in your garden, too. But, if you live in northern or western areas of the United States, you might have no idea what it is. Can you believe it!? It’s a fact. Therefore, we challenge all gardeners who have never grown it, to learn how to grow okra. Then, grow it this year in your vegetable garden. You’ll be glad that you did.

Here’s another amazing fact: even a lot of people who know what it is, say they have never eaten it. At least they do not think they have. However, if you have ever had a gumbo recipe of any kind, you have eaten it. Also, if you’ve eaten any southern cooking, you’ve likely had Okra.

The part of the plant that you eat, is actually the seed pod.

Okra is grown all over the world. It is most common in the southern part of the U.S., and uncommon elsewhere. Now here comes the good part….. Growing it is easy. And, it grows quickly. Its quick maturation makes it a vegetable that can be grown even in areas with short seasons. So, if you have not tried it in your garden before, give it a try this year.

Did You Know? Okra is related to Hibiscus.

Varieties of Okra

Common varieties include:

Clemson Spineless
Dwarf Long Pod Green
Red Burgundy

Okra Plant Specifications

Days to Harvest: 60 to 75 days from planting seeds. 40 to 50 days from transplanting seedlings.

Plant height: Three to six feet tall.

Light Needs: Full, direct sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5 Ideal Soil pH by vegetable.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 2 – 11

Plant Type: Perennial. However, it is usually grown as an annual.

Deer Resistant? No.

Native to: Asia and Africa.

Botanical Name: Abelmoschus esculentus

Other Names: Lady’s Finger

Nutritional Value

One cup of raw Okra lettuce contains approximately:

33 calories
7 g carbs
0 g cholesterol
0 g fat
2 g fiber
2 g protein
7 mg sodium

Planting Okra Seeds

You can sow Okra seeds directly into your vegetable garden. Or for an early start, plant them in pots indoors four to six weeks before transplanting them into your garden. Sow Okra seeds 1/2 inch or less deep. Space seeds 6 to 8 inches apart, in rows 2 feet apart. A week or so after germination, thin plants to a final spacing of 12 to 18 inches apart.

For an outdoor start, sow seeds early after all, danger of frost has passed, and the weather has warmed. Do not rush to plant them after the last frost. The seeds prefer warm weather and need warm soil to germinate. The plants grow quickly in warm weather.

How to Grow Okra Plants

Light Requirements

Okra plants thrive in warm weather when grown in full, direct sunlight. Give the plants at least six to eight hours of bright direct sunlight.

For optimal growth and production, give them full sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

Planting and Soil Needs

Provide full sun and rich, well-drained soil.

Mix plenty of rich compost into the planting site.

The plants are quick-growing in hot weather. It loves the heat more than perhaps most other vegetables. So, wait to plant okra seeds until just before hot weather sets in.

Garden Tip: As you harvest your cool weather lettuce greens, use the open space to plant additional okra.

Fertilizer Needs

Okra plants grow quickly with a rich garden soil and generous amounts of fertilizer applied on a regular basis.

Apply fertilizer every three to four weeks. At the beginning of the season use a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Then, as the flowers begin to appear, switch over toa fertilizer formula high in potassium to promote lots of blooms.

Water Needs

Keep the plants watered, but make sure to provide good drainage, as they do not like to keep their feet wet for extended periods.

Keep the soil moist but not wet, during the entire growing season.

Other Steps

Keep the area well-weeded, especially early in the plant’s growth. Otherwise, weeds compete for nutrients and soil moisture.

Apply a thick layer of mulch to keep the weeds down, and to retain soil moisture.

While the plants are sturdy, you may need to stake them towards the end of the season.

Also see:

Plant Problems

Soil Temperatures – Ideal germination temperature by vegetable

Ideal Soil pH – for all vegetables.

Insects and Pests

Aphids and other insects enjoy sucking on the juices of the plants. The first time this author ever grew it, the Okra mainly fed the insects. Insect control is important for a bountiful harvest.

Harvesting Plants

Harvest the Okra pods are 3 – 4 inches long, while they are young and tender.

Okra pods will get hard and stringy quickly. As a result, you need to pick the pods regularly, as often as every other day. Additionally, this encourages the plant to produce more flowers and pods for an extended period of time.