Growing Okra
Thrives in the exact heat that wilts everything else in the garden.
How to Grow Okra
Planting
Direct sow after the soil is thoroughly warm, okra seed rots in cold, wet ground. Soaking seed overnight speeds germination.
Watering & feeding
Moderate and steady, okra is genuinely drought-tolerant once established, this is one you can ease up on during a dry spell.
Harvest
Pick pods every day or two once they start, they go from tender to woody fast, anything longer than your finger is probably tough.
Grows Well With
Plant okra near peppers and eggplant, all three love the same heat and don’t compete much for space below ground. See all our companion planting pairs →
When to Plant
Direct sow after mid-May once the soil is reliably warm. A second late sowing in June keeps pods coming into fall. See the full planting calendar →
Buy the Seeds We Use
From the Seed Center
Shop Okra Seeds
$1.25
From the Kitchen: Recipes Using Okra
Looking for recipe ideas? Browse the full Recipe Book.