Okra Planting Guide

May

okra this May — what to know

Some notes on okra care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 50–65

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 30″

How to water okra
About an inch of water a week keeps okra happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put okra
okra wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant okra. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant okra where you live →

Okra is a heat-loving tropical plant that produces edible seed pods. It thrives in hot summers and produces beautiful hibiscus-like flowers before setting pods.

Abelmoschus esculentus · Vegetable · Malvaceae family · 50–65 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Okra Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Okra?

Zone Compatibility for Okra Zones 5a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 5a	Feb 28	May 2	May 9	Jul 4 – Aug 29
Zone 5b	Feb 21	Apr 25	May 2	Jun 27 – Aug 22
Zone 6a	Feb 13	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jun 19 – Aug 14
Zone 6b	Feb 6	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 12 – Aug 7
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 3 – Jul 29
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	May 27 – Jul 22
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 17 – Jul 12
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 6 – Jul 1
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 14 – Jun 9
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 25	Feb 1	Mar 29 – May 24
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 5 – Apr 30

How to Plant Okra

Planting Depth

30"

Between Plants

42"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 5a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Malvaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Malvaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Okra

Okra matures in just 50–65 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Okra

✅ Good Companions

Peppers Eggplant Basil Sunflower

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Okra

Direct sow after soil reaches 65F. Soak seeds overnight to improve germination. Harvest pods when 2-4 inches long and still tender; they become tough if left too long.

💧 Watering: Okra needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Okra Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Okra by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Okra?

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) takes 50 to 65 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Okra grow in?

Okra can be grown in USDA zones 5a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Okra need?

Growing Okra requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.