(Best months for planting Okra in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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 Mar 13, Brenda (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a crop of Ockra now starting to harvest and notice the leaves are all drooping and very sticky would like to know if I can prevent this.

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14 Feb 13, Sharon (Australia - temperate climate)

I am going to try to grow okra now and I am hoping to take the plants indoors when the weather gets cold - I love eating okra and seem to hunt it down more in winter - hope it works

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30 Nov 12, Dennis patuwairua (New Zealand - temperate climate)

where can I purchase okra plants in New Zealand

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23 Dec 12, Lee (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Usually I find plants at local markets, otherwise have to start from seed. Yates, Kings and Egmont have okra seeds of various types. The last lot of plants I bought were from a grower in Rama Rama, which is considerably further south than here, but much flatter and further from the sea so their climate can be quite dry and hot. I've never seen okra sold as plants or seedlings at generic garden centres. This may be because I live in urban Auckland and the weather is borderline for growing okra - first sign of coldness and they halt and sometimes never start growing again. Humid conditions can also attract powdery mildew here.

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22 Oct 12, Gary (USA - Zone 9b climate)

I live in New Orleans louisiana, united states. I grew about 56 plants this year and enjoyed them very much... A wonderful way to cook them is to stir fry them. All you do is wash them, then cut them onto rings put in a bowl and add italian bread crumbs and salt and pepper and mix. Then take a frying pan and add butter. When the butter is hot add the okra.. cook and stir occasionally til they are crisp.. very good taste.

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13 Oct 12, Heywood (Australia - temperate climate)

does anyone know if black (swamp) wallabies, satin bowerbirds or sulphur-crested cockatoos attack okra ?

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29 Dec 12, wayne (Australia - temperate climate)

probably, YUM

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21 Nov 12, paul (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I know wallabies & most birds dont bother them. In 2456 nsw

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11 Oct 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Okra does indeed grow in the cool areas, it just needs a bit of help to establish. I put an old plastic milk bottle over the plant until it fills the bottle, then away it goes. Just pick the warmest part of your garden. I got a small crop last year because of the cold Summer, but should have heaps this year.

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07 Oct 12, Danny (Australia - temperate climate)

I first planted okra in 2011 .Now I can use my own seed , just about every seed germinated when I planted in the first week of october 2012

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