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Growing Okra, also Ladyfinger, gumbo

(Abelmoschus esculentus)

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

(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.


  • 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. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 35 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with: Peppers (Capsicum, Chili), Eggplant (Aubergine)
  • Okra on flowering plant

Your comments and tips

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28 Aug 12, ToonZie (Australia - temperate climate)
Also, 4 seasons seeds (google it I think 4seasonsseeds.com.au or something similar) has two varieties of okra available. I have to assume they are good quality as every other seed I've bought from them has been. They even tend to send me freebie seed packs along with my orders sometimes. I never buy seeds from eBay, bunnings or grocery stores. I only use reputable online suppliers or seed swaps.
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28 Aug 12, ToonZie (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in the far south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Being born in Oklahoma and raised in the southern US, I am very excited to be growing Okra for the first time this year. Australia does indeed need to embrace this amazing veg!! By the way, the way to pronounce is "Oh krah" not "Aukra" :)
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17 Aug 12, Shankar (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, Where do you get the best okra seeds... I tried buying from flower power in Sydney and ebay, but I cant get a single seed to germinate.... any help would be greatly appreciated... Thanks Shankar
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29 Sep 12, Sylvester (Australia - temperate climate)
You can keep the best bean for seeds. Also I soaked the seeds in advance. They became much bigger arter the first 24 hours. Then started growing in another 24 hours.
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23 Aug 12, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
try Green harvest they have great seed
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06 Jul 12, Johan (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What tipe of fertilizers do one ure I am using MAP 39 for now and then what els can one use when plants are bigger.plants are 3 weeks old
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02 May 12, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
I love orka I love mixing it with peppers and eggplant!I love to grill it on the BBQ! :) try it !! grill it on its side for 2 minutes each!its yummy!!!!
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12 Mar 12, Sue Averay (Australia - temperate climate)
I ran an okra trial in my Adelaide eastern suburbs garden this year. Best spot by far is on eastern fence with plenty of afternoon sun, second best on southern wall of house with morning sun from north and afternoon dappled shade. Planted out seeds in November, slow germination through our cool early summer, really took off in late January and are fruiting well. I give them fortnightly Powerfeed. No sign of disease, despite humid spells, and very tolerant of a few days without water.
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18 Mar 12, Rob (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Fantastic results for okra here in Brisbane as well! We grow them every year and eat them in a lot of cooking. No problem except for the caterpillar from the moth similar to cabbage moth - really does the plant in fast! Spray with white oil and watch for the signs of leaves being stripped - the holes are the grasshoppers!
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20 Feb 12, Brian (Australia - temperate climate)
Alternatives to Pyretherum to deal with Perth bugs. What can I make up as low cost option?
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Post a question, comment or tip about Okra

I had great success planting early crop of Okra in 2011. I use the Burgundy Okra which is somewhat cold tolerant (Eden Seeds). I soaked seeds in warm water for 2 hours and heated up the ground or seed tray prior to planting (clear plastic) and maintained greenhouse conditions with a portable cover (very easy low cost cover) = significant increase in propagation. I cropped and ate these for 2 months and followed up by planting green Star of David Okra. Same method produced great propagation results BUT I have a problem with these at harvest. I'm hoping someone has an answer. The Star of David sprouted the fattest Okra Ive ever seen. I thought Id managed to grow giant Okra yet no matter how short I picked them they remained too hard to eat - huge unusable crop - I only collected seeds. U guys got any answers? I will plant a late summer crop of Burgundy Okra that can survive longest into winter. Combining the use of cold tolerant and green Okra I hope to crop for 8 months a year.

- Silversurfer


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