Okra
Dates below are counted from the average last spring frost or the average first fall frost. Enter a ZIP in the calendar for NOAA 1991–2020 station averages, or pick a zone and use the zone table.
When to plant
Soil and site
Any decent soil, as long as it's warm. Okra thrives in the heat that wilts everything else.
Seedlings
Soak seed overnight before sowing, and wait for soil above 70°F — cold soil stalls it for weeks.
In the garden
The South's summer champion: it produces from July to frost without complaint. Wear sleeves when picking; the spines itch.
Picking
Pods at 2–4 in, every single day. Oversized pods turn woody and tell the plant to quit.
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Dates by zone
These pages turn the same frost offsets into calendar dates for each zone the calendar covers.