How to Grow Okra

Planting

Figure 1. Plant okra seeds about 2 inches apart and 1 inch deep.
Figure 2. Okra rows should be 3 feet apart. After the plants are 3 to 4 inches tall, thin them to 1 foot between the plants.
Figure 3. Harvest okra when it is about 3 to 4 inches long.

How long does okra take to grow?
Is okra easy to grow?
How do you grow okra step by step?
What can you not plant near okra?
How many okra can one plant produce?
What month do you plant okra?
Does okra grow back every year?
Can okra be grown in pots?
What is the best fertilizer for okra?
What is the best soil for okra?
Why is my okra not growing?

How long does okra take to grow?

Okra reaches maturity in 50 to 65 days. The plants can produce for ten to 12 weeks. It grows and bears seed pods until frost, which quickly turns them black and kills them. Start harvesting a few days after the okra blooms fade.

Is okra easy to grow?

Okra is easy to grow but the seeds have a hard coat that can slow germination. To speed up the process, soak the seeds overnight in warm water before planting. Wrapping the seeds in moist paper towels also works well.

How do you grow okra step by step?

Sow the seeds or plant the seedlings. When the weather is warm, it's time to plant the okra in your garden. Sow your seeds 4 inches (10.2 cm) apart at a depth of ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm). If you started your seeds indoors, handle the seedlings very carefully and plant them 1 foot (0.3 m) apart in rows 3 feet (0.9 m) apart.

What can you not plant near okra?

Don't plant too close, as cucumbers also need a large amount of sun to ripen. Pepper plants will repel cabbage worms, which can be a destructive nuisance to okra plants. Melons can be a good okra companion; like cucumbers, they need ample sun and water, so be sure the okra won't shade the plants too much.

How many okra can one plant produce?

How much okra can you get from one plant? If your okra plants have ideal conditions, they can produce 20 – 30+ pods per plant. In a warmer hardiness zone such as zone 9b, you will have a longer growing season, into the fall or longer.

What month do you plant okra?

For the best yields, plant okra in the spring 2 to 3 weeks after all danger of frost has passed. For a good fall crop, plant at least 3 months before the first fall frost.

Does okra grow back every year?

When planting okra in more temperate climates, this perennial plant becomes an annual and must be replanted each year. To plant okra it is best to soak the seeds overnight to improve germination.

Can okra be grown in pots?

You can grow any variety of okra in a container, but dwarf varieties are better suited to container gardening than other okra plant types. ... Due to its taproot, okra will not transplant well, so it's best to plant seeds into your containers directly. Sow two or three okra seeds one half to one inch deep into each pot.

What is the best fertilizer for okra?

Okra should be sidedressed with 3 to 6 pounds of calcium nitrate (15. 5-0-0) per 1,000 square feet or 1 to 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. Sidedressing should occur at 3 to 4 weeks after planting and again at 6 to 8 weeks after planting.

What is the best soil for okra?

Fertile, sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 are ideal for growing okra. Utah soils have a higher pH (7.0 to 8.5) so it may be necessary to add sulfur or peat moss to modify pH levels. Almost all soils are suitable for okra production, provided they are well-drained. Okra does not tolerate wet soil conditions.

Why is my okra not growing?

Do not over-use nitrogen, since it can cause excessive vegetative growth with poor yield. Okra will do fairly well under dry conditions. However, if you water the plants every 7 to 10 days, the yield will be higher. Sandy soils will need water more often than clay soils.