Select your climate zone Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P						S	S	S	T	T

(Best months for planting Okra in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Sow direct in garden where they are to grow.

• Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 35-60cm

In warm districts okra can be sown in garden beds. Raise seedlings in a similar way to capsicums - warmth is essential. Pick pods within a week of flowers opening - at about 5 - 8 cm long. Pods become tough and inedible if left too long.

Pods have a high gum content so do not appeal to everyone.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Okra

Use pods fresh or dried in soups or casseroles or as a boiled vegetable.

Your comments and tips

24 May 10 Anita (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Can I keep my okra plants in the vege patch for more than one season? Can they be pruned back and take a rest until next spring when they could releaf? Being related to hibiscus I thought this may be feasible. Many thanks for feedback.

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27 May 10 Jean (Australia - tropical climate)

If it's warm enough okra can be grown as a perennial and will grow year after year. You just need to pick all the pods so it doesn't give up producing. You can cut them back to about 30cm and give them a good feed every so often. They'll grow into a sort of shrub.

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28 May 10 anita (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Thank you for this information, Jean. It certainly helps. Do you know if the same can be done with Rosellas - also being related to hibiscus as you will know. cheers

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13 Jun 10 Andrea (Australia - tropical climate)

As no one else has replied, I will give it a shot. I haven't actually grown rosellas but my mother did when i was a child. It was grown as a bush like any other fruit tree as i recall , ie it was just left there to produce. It may have been pruned a little but i don't recall it looking like a pruned hedge ever.

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08 Apr 10 Raji (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Okra seeds needs warm soil to germinate. Once it is established you can harvest until May. Easy recipe: wash dry cut the top off. Boil with sliced onion, split green chillies, coconut milk, curry leaves and salt. Do not put the spoon in the pan. Shake the pan instead if you want everything to mix well. after 10-15 minutes remove from stove and add lime juice. Enjoy.

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03 Apr 10 Raelene (Australia - temperate climate)

Have tried for past three years to grow okra, with no success. Have asked many people, and no -one knows what it is or how to grow. Love it in stews and soups. This site has helped, but now have to wait until next spring/summer to try again. I am in southern victoria.

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24 Mar 10 Kathie (Australia - tropical climate)

Simple quick recipe - Wash the outside and dry with a paper towel. (If they are wet they seem to get extra gooey.) Fry up some bacon, then add sliced okra and fry further. I did try them deep fried in crumbs but that was in the southern states of America!

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07 Mar 10 bazbina (Australia - tropical climate)

i grow my okra in Brisbane qld and get the best results-in sandy soil ,i love cooking them in my favorite best way to cook okra is the Lebanese way ,which you have to deep fry first as a whole until golden brown so the gummy feel goes away,and then you saute 1 slice onion,1 clove of garlic,coriander 1/2 kg cube sliced lamb meat,cook all together until meat are golden brown...next add 2 cups of water bring it to boil for 20 minutes with lid on until meat is tender .add some of your favorite spice such as cumin ,nutmeg,white pepper and after it has been reduced add 2 table spoon of pomegranate paste or tammerin Indian paste same taste ,and 3 soup spoon of tomato paste bring to simmer for 10 minutes ..served with rice dish on the side

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26 Feb 10 Hoi (Australia - temperate climate)

I love okra, do you think if i start planting it now and it will last through winter? Or does it die during winter and spring back to life after that? I am not greeb thumb but trying my best... home grown vegies are the best in taste! my kids love it and so am i

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26 Feb 10 Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

We're harvesting Okra most days now. I clip them off the plant when they're a bit bigger than my biggest finger and store them in the fridge. Once we have about 6-7 we cook them. Our favourite is with tomatoes: saute onion, then saute Okra a few minutes, add tomatoes and cook about 10 mins, let sit 5 mins. You can add spices like cumin/cardamon too if you like.

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