How to Grow Okra

Determine the best time to start planting seeds. If you live in an area with hot summers and mild winters, the easiest method is to plant okra directly in the garden rather than starting seeds indoors. Sow okra seeds in early spring, after the last frost of the year, when nighttime temperatures stay above 55°F (13°C). If your region doesn’t meet these conditions until late spring or early summer, it’s better to start seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Once the seedlings are strong and the weather warms up, you can transplant them into the garden.

• Start seeds indoors by planting them in a peat moss mixture and watering to keep the soil moist. Place the seed pots in a warm, sunny room or use grow lights to maintain warmth during germination. Keep the temperature between 65 - 70°F (18 - 21°C).
• When transplanting seedlings outdoors after the weather warms, follow the same steps as planting okra seeds directly outside.

Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. Okra thrives best under full sunlight. The plant won’t produce many fruits if grown in shaded areas. Okra needs to be planted where it receives at least 6 hours of full sun daily. Don’t worry about the plant getting too hot – okra thrives even during the peak of summer when the sun is at its strongest.

Adjust the soil pH. Okra grows best in soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.0. Test the soil pH to determine if it’s suitable. You can add lime or bone meal to increase the soil’s pH. If you prefer a gentler approach, adding compost can help adjust the pH to a neutral level of 7.

Enrich the soil with nutrients. Okra grows well in nutrient-rich soil. You can use compost, packaged organic fertilizer, or a slow-release 4-6-6 fertilizer. Regardless of the type, work the soil to a depth of about 30 cm and mix in a 10 cm layer of compost. Use a rake to distribute the fertilizer evenly.

• Okra may not produce many fruits if the soil lacks proper fertilization.

Plant seeds or seedlings in the soil. Once the weather warms up, it’s time to plant okra in your garden. Sow the seeds about 10 cm apart and 1.3 cm deep. If you started seedlings indoors, handle them very carefully. Space the okra seedlings about 30 cm apart in rows, with rows spaced about 1 meter apart. Dig holes wide enough to accommodate the root ball and gently firm the soil around the base. Water the garden to settle the soil.

• To speed up germination, you can soak the seeds overnight before planting or freeze them to crack the shells.
• When transplanting seedlings, be careful not to damage the taproot. The plant won’t survive if the root is crushed.

Ensure the plants receive adequate water. Okra requires at least 2.5 cm of water weekly. Water the plants every morning to keep the soil thoroughly moist, except after heavy rainfall. While okra can tolerate slightly dry soil, it thrives significantly better when consistently watered throughout the summer.

• It’s best to water okra in the morning, allowing the plants to dry before nightfall. Water left on the soil overnight can cause root rot.
• Avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Water droplets on the leaves can act like magnifying glasses under the sun, potentially burning the foliage.

Thin out the seedlings. Once the okra seeds have sprouted and grown to about 8 cm tall, remove the weaker seedlings, leaving only the strongest plants. Space the remaining seedlings about 30-60 cm apart in rows spaced 1 meter apart. Skip this step if you started with indoor seedlings.

Weed and apply mulch to the okra beds. While the plants are still young, cultivate the soil to remove weeds, then spread a layer of mulch (such as dried pine needles) around the seedlings. Mulch helps prevent weeds from growing and invading the okra beds.

Apply compost to the plants. Since okra requires ample nutrients to grow, continue adding compost to the soil throughout the summer. Apply compost three times: once after thinning the seedlings, once after the first fruits appear, and once during the mid-growing season. Use a rake to mix about 10 cm of compost into the soil around the base of the plants to replenish nutrients.

• You can also use packaged or slow-release fertilizers for okra.
• Avoid over-fertilizing; three applications are sufficient. Excessive fertilization can harm the plants more than it helps.

Keep an eye out for pests. Aphids, stink bugs, and corn borers are particularly fond of okra. While okra is resilient and rarely suffers severe pest damage, controlling pest populations can help maximize fruit production. Regularly inspect the leaves and stems for holes, yellowing, and other signs of infestation. You can remove pests by hand or spray a soapy water solution on the leaves to deter them.

Pick okra and continue harvesting. About 8 weeks after planting, okra begins to produce fruit. Once the pods are ready for harvest, you can start picking them regularly. Use scissors or garden shears to cut the okra just above the cap where the stem connects to the pod. When you remove a pod, another will grow in its place. Continue harvesting okra throughout the summer until the plant slows down and stops producing new fruit.

• Harvest okra when the pods are about 5-8 cm long.
• Pick okra every 2 days, or daily in warm climates during peak season to encourage regrowth. You can even harvest twice a day when okra is in full production. Overgrown okra becomes tough and fibrous.
• Wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting. The tiny spines on the leaves and pods can cause skin irritation.

Enjoy okra while it’s fresh. The flavor and texture of okra are at their best within the first few days after harvesting. You’ll likely have plenty of okra to prepare classic dishes such as:

• Fried okra
• Gumbo soup
• Stewed okra

Pickle okra for preservation. Pickling is an excellent way to store okra for several months. You can pickle okra using a brine solution, similar to pickling cucumbers. For the best quality, pickle okra soon after harvesting.

Freeze okra for long-term storage. If you have an abundance of okra or want to save it for winter, freezing is a great option. Blanch the okra in boiling water for 3 minutes, then transfer it to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Cut the okra into bite-sized pieces, arrange them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the okra to a freezer-safe bag for long-term storage.

• Okra is relatively resistant to pests, including aphids, thrips, spider mites, and caterpillars.

• Verticillium wilt, caused by soilborne pathogens, can affect okra plants. Avoid planting okra in soil previously used for Solanaceae crops (potatoes, tomatoes, etc.) or Brassica crops (cabbage, broccoli, etc.).