Growing Okra, also Ladyfinger, gumbo

Abelmoschus esculentus : Malvaceae / the mallow family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • 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 68°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 14 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Peppers (Capsicum, Chili), Eggplant (Aubergine)

Your comments and tips

20 Apr 11, Brooke (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I had the same problem really badly when living in Cairns. They were destroying my tomatoes. Then a friend told me about dish washing liquid. Get a spray bottle and make a solution of dish washing liquid and water - then spray the plants every day until the little buggers go away. The white critters hate dish washing liquid. It's cheap, effective, kind to the environment and doesn't hurt the plant.
21 Feb 22, Manjeet (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Could you kindly tell me when to plant Okra, Arbi,Pomegranet in Perth WA. Thanks
12 Mar 11, Alan Langley-Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown superp crops of an excellent variety of Okra called Dwarf Green Longpod in the Melbourne area - in Ferntree Gully. This was in the early 1970's when there was a seed merchant at the Victoria Market. It was run by a Greek migrant who knew a huge amount about plants from his homeland. The shop disappeared and in Melbourne we were left with the sub-tropical variety Clemson's Spineless that is next to useless by comparison with Dwarf Green Longpod - which is still commonly used in cooler okra growing regions such as North America - including Canada. In fact there are several other varieties suitable for Melbourne that are unavailable here. We are treated as second class citizens by the horticultural industry - supplying us with essentially leftover seed from the more tropical regions of Australia - when I have contacted them I have been told that they know best.
05 Mar 11, Sam Wong (Australia - temperate climate)
OKRA seeds can be purchased in some chinese shop where the vegetable seeds are !
23 Feb 11, garry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I get my seeds from Bunnings ,Nth NSW They grow quite well here
15 Jan 11, mohan (Australia - temperate climate)
comment: OKRA plants require a free draining soil with pH between 6 and 6.5. potash in required to be fed in fair amounts from December onwards. Red spider mite is a troublesome pest but can be controlled by spraying fine mist of water on the leaves including the undersides. Okra plants do NOT tolerate low temperatures and frost.
03 Jan 11, Katie S (Australia - temperate climate)
We planted okra seeds into seedling trays in sept 2010. Now that they are in the ground and about knee height maybe 50cm they are producing fruit. We are unsure as to whether to take off some of the lower leaves and buds or just leave it all on there. The plants just dont seem to look right. But as we are beginners with okra we're not sure. Any feedback would be appreciated. Also do ants eating the flowers cause the pods to be bent?
31 Dec 10, Patricia (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I live in WA is it too late to plant Okra seed now Jan 2011 Thankyou
27 Nov 10, Nicole (Australia - arid climate)
does okra need trellissing? Thank you!
02 Dec 10, Sam (Australia - arid climate)
A Google image search shows Okra without trellises. The Queensland DPI speaks of Okra farmed in raised-bed farming systems and doesn't mention trellises or other supports. Okra is used in Southern USA cooking both for flavour and because it naturally thickens soups.
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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