When to plant Okra
A Southern heat-lover that thrives where summers are long and hot. Soak the hard seed before sowing in warm soil. The pods toughen fast, so pick them at 2–4 inches every day or two to keep the plant producing.
Companions: Peppers, eggplant, basil, melons
How to grow Okra
Okra is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this tender crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 60 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include peppers, eggplant, basil, melons.
Grower's tip: A true heat lover — wait for warm soil, then pick the pods young every day or two.
When to plant Okra by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same okra goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors May 18–Jun 1 Direct sow outdoors Jun 22–Jul 6 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors May 13–May 27 Direct sow outdoors Jun 17–Jul 1 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 27–May 11 Direct sow outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 22–May 6 Direct sow outdoors May 27–Jun 10 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Apr 12–Apr 26 Direct sow outdoors May 17–May 31 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Jan 22–Feb 5 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |