How to Grow Okra Successfully in Hot Climates

Okra is the one plant I tell everyone to grow in the summer, even people who swear they don’t like to eat it. In the low desert, where most vegetables give up by July, okra keeps going. It shades the soil, feeds the pollinators, and gives my family more than we can keep up with from just a plant or two. My grandma was from Mississippi, so I grew up eating it, and it’s still one of my favorites when the heat shuts everything else down. Here’s how I plant, grow, harvest, and use it.

All About Okra

Okra is a tall, warm-season annual that produces beautiful flowers. Once the flowers fade, they become a fiber-rich vegetable packed with folate and vitamin K. Okra also slows down the digestion of carbs and sugars. This is one healthy vegetable!

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is also known as gumbo, lady’s finger, and bhindi in different parts of the world. It is part of the mallow family and is closely related to cotton, roselle hibiscus, and cocoa.

Okra is an annual plant that can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and has a spread of about 3 feet (1 m). This heat-loving crop grows best in warm climates with plenty of sunlight.

Try Different Varieties of Okra

There are several varieties of okra to choose from. I’ve grown all of these successfully in my garden. They are consistent producers here in the low desert.

• Clemson Spineless is a popular variety that is easy to grow, matures quickly, and has a high yield. Get seeds here.
• Emerald is a popular variety that is resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt diseases.
• Red Burgundy has deep red pods and is a unique variety to grow in your garden. Get seeds here.

More varieties of okra for high heat and low humidity areas (such as the low desert of Arizona) include Red Velvet and Texas Hill Country Red.

When to Plant Okra

Okra thrives in hot weather, so it’s important to wait until the soil has warmed up before planting it outside. The soil should be at least 70°F (21°C) for the seeds to germinate. (If you need a soil thermometer to check the temperature this one is my favorite). In the low desert of Arizona, plant okra from the middle of March through the end of June. Okra is one of the few vegetables that loves the heat. Find out what else to plant in June in Arizona.

If you have a short growing season, consider starting okra seeds indoors. Sow the seeds about 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost date. Fill a seed starter tray with potting soil and plant the seeds about ½ inch (1 cm) deep. Transplant them to your garden when the soil warms in the spring. For more information on starting seeds indoors and planting transplants visit these guides.

Okra and peanuts both thrive in warm weather. Discover how to grow peanuts and add another reliable warm-season crop to your beds.

Okra Growing Tips

Okra prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Loamy soil is perfect for growing okra, but it will also grow in sandy soil. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage.

Go easy on feeding okra. If the soil is too rich, you’ll get a big leafy plant and fewer blooms, which means fewer pods. I don’t fertilize mine at all.

Okra needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to grow well. Choosing a location with full sun exposure for your okra plants is important.

Plant seeds about ¾ inch (2 cm) deep and 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart. Drop a couple of seeds in each spot, and once they sprout, thin to the strongest seedling. Mature okra gets tall and wide, so give it room. If you’re using square-foot gardening, go one plant per square, or every other square to give them even more space. If you’re interested, learn more about square-foot gardening here.

Water okra to a depth of 8-12” (20-30cm). Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and water your plants deeply once a week if there’s no rain. I use these garden grids from Garden in Minutes to water all of my beds. Mulch well to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

After planting, okra can seem slow to get going, and then all of a sudden it takes off. You might notice what looks like tiny crystals on the leaves or pods. Don’t worry. That’s normal, and it’s a defense the plant uses to protect itself.

Don’t be afraid to prune okra hard. One summer mine got so tall they couldn’t handle the monsoon winds. I cut them back, and within a few weeks several lower branches filled in with fruit on every one. Another plant snapped off in a storm. I cut it clean at the break, and two new branches grew up from the base with okra on both. If you want to cut back, cut just above a node and new growth will form below that point. This plant is hardy and sends out new growth anywhere it can.

How to Grow Okra as a Companion Plant

Here are some companion planting ideas for okra:

• Tepary Beans: These drought-tolerant beans grow well in the same soil as okra and can utilize the tall structure of okra plants to climb for support.
• Climbing Beans: Other climbing beans, such as French beans, Lima beans, and runner beans, can also be grown alongside okra to take advantage of its height and structure.
• Sweet Potatoes: Okra uses tall space while sweet potatoes grow below ground, and their vines can climb and grow below the okra. This maximizes vertical space and improves soil health, as sweet potatoes aerate the soil, and the okra acts as a natural trellis.

These plants make great companions for okra, as they have similar soil and water requirements and can help improve soil health. By planting them together, you can create a more diverse and sustainable ecosystem that benefits you and the environment.

Because our seasons are short, I also use okra to get a jump on fall. Its leaves shade the soil, so I can plant a cool season crop like beets underneath while it’s still hot. When the okra finishes, I cut it at the base and the beets get full sun once temperatures drop.

Even if you don’t like eating okra, plant it anyway. During the hottest months it works as a cover crop. It shades the soil and keeps it alive underneath while most beds are baking and bare. The blooms bring in bees and pollinators and add some life to the garden when everything else is just trying to survive the heat. That alone is worth the space.

Read this guide for other heat-loving crops that could grow well with okra.

This crop also plays a role in the Three Sisters planting of corn, beans, and squash. Corn is tricky for me to grow here, so I swap in okra for the corn. The beans climb the okra stalks and the squash shades the soil below. See how I set it up in the Three Sisters Grow Bag Garden.

This heat-loving relative of okra brings stunning burgundy foliage to the garden. Read more here: How to Grow Mahogany Splendor Hibiscus

How to Grow Okra in Containers

Okra grows well in containers of at least 5 gallons (larger is better if possible). Examples include 12″ terra cotta or nursery pot, and grow bags.

To help water container-grown okra, consider adding an oya, a terracotta vessel that gradually releases water over time. This moistens the soil without overwatering, which is especially important for okra to produce tender, tasty pods. I use oyas from Growoya.

Find more vegetables that grow well in containers in this guide.

Okra Harvesting Tips

Once okra flowers, it will be ready for harvest in 3-4 days. The taste of okra pods is best when harvested at 2-3” (5-7 cm) long. Okra pods longer than 4” (10 cm) begin to be fibrous and inedible.

In Arizona’s low desert, okra is often ready to harvest by September—see the September harvest guide for other crops at their peak this month.

Pro tip: When pods get too big and fibrous to eat, don’t toss them. I save the tough ones and the ends of the smaller ones to make okra water, which keeps a lot of the same health benefits. After I strain it, I feed the leftover okra to my worms. Here’s how I make and use okra water.

Make it a point to harvest okra daily while it is producing (leaving pods on the plant slows or stops production). Always harvest okra by cutting with a knife or pruners (pulling the pods off can damage the plant).

Okra plants usually produce pods for about 10 to 12 weeks. In the hottest stretch of summer, production can slow down and the pods can turn woody faster, so harvest often to keep them tender. With good care you can stretch the season out longer. Cut them off at the base at the end of the season (the roots will add organic matter to the soil) and move the plants to your compost pile.

How to Save Okra Seeds

Saving seeds from okra plants is a great way to preserve the variety of okra you have grown and to save money on buying new seeds each year.

Here are some steps to follow when saving okra seeds:

1. Allow the okra pods to fully mature and dry out on the plant. The pods should turn brown and become hard and woody.
2. Once the pods are completely dry, remove them from the plant and cut them off with garden shears or scissors.
3. Next, put dried okra pods in a paper bag or envelope labeled with the variety’s name and the year.
4. Store the bag or envelope in a cool, dry place for several weeks to allow the seeds inside the pods to fully dry and separate from the pod.
5. Once the seeds are fully dry, gently shake the bag or envelope to release the seeds from the pods.
6. Store the seeds in an airtight container (such as a glass jar), and keep them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant them. I like using these jars with these airtight lids.

Storing and Using Harvested Okra

To avoid spoilage, it is best not to wash okra until you are ready to use it. Instead, wrap it in a dry paper towel and place it in a plastic bag or container in the fridge. For the best quality, consume within 3 to 5 days and wash before using.

Read this article for my favorite recipes like fried okra and tips to avoid the sliminess often associated with okra.