When to Plant Okra
Okra is a tender warm-season vegetable. Frost damages it, so it goes out only after the last spring frost.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, and plant out 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost. Or sow it where it will grow, 2 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost. The first harvest comes about 55 to 70 days after sowing.
Example dates
The same rules in dates for three climates, using typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.
| Task | Last frost Mar 15first Nov 15 | Last frost Apr 15first Oct 25 | Last frost May 15first Sep 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Feb 1 – 15 | Mar 4 – 18 | Apr 3 – 17 |
| Harden off | Mar 22 – 28 | Apr 22 – 28 | May 22 – 28 |
| Plant out | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Apr 29 – May 13 | May 29 – Jun 12 |
| Harvest | Mar 28 – May 23 | Apr 28 – Jun 23 | May 28 – Jul 23 |
| Direct-sown: Sow outdoors | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Apr 29 – May 13 | May 29 – Jun 12 |
| Direct-sown: Harvest | May 23 – Jul 18 | Jun 23 – Aug 18 | Jul 23 – Sep 17 |
Growing okra
Okra wants hot soil; once pods start, cut them every other day while they are 2-4 inches long.
- Spacing: 18 in apart, in rows 36 in apart. In a raised bed, 1 per sq ft at square-foot spacing.
- Days to harvest: 55 to 70 from sowing, then about 8 weeks of picking.
- Traditional companions: bell pepper. See companion plants for okra.
Plan your beds with these dates
Draw your beds, tap squares to plant okra and everything else, and get every crop's dates for your ZIP code in one calendar. Free, in your browser.
Open the garden plannerQuestions
When do I start okra indoors?
4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost: with a last frost of April 15, that's Mar 4 – 18. Enter your ZIP code above for your own dates.
Can okra go in before the last frost?
No. Okra is damaged by frost: plant it out 2 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost.
How long does okra take to grow?
About 55 to 70 days from sowing to the first harvest, which then lasts about 8 weeks. Varieties differ: check the seed packet.
More planting dates
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, by station: freeze dates at 32 °F)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech: Virginia's Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant (426-331 / SPES-673P, 2025)
- University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Planting Calendar for central Maryland
- NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 16: Vegetable Gardening
- Iowa State: Fall Planting of Vegetables
- Iowa State: Growing Okra in the Home Garden
- N.C. A&T State University Cooperative Extension: Five Veggies You Can Grow at Home