Okra Plant
Vibrant, Homegrown Okra Plants – A Southern Classic for Your Garden
Add a touch of Southern charm to your garden with our robust, homegrown okra plants! Grown with care right on our farm, these plants thrive in warm weather and produce beautiful, nutritious pods perfect for frying, gumbo, or pickling. Hardy, heat-loving, and easy to grow, our okra plants are ready to hit the ground running and deliver a bountiful harvest all season long.
Growing and harvesting okra is relatively simple, but understanding the best practices will help you get the most from your plants.
Select the Right Location
Okra loves the sun and needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden.
Okra thrives in well-draining soil. Amend soil with compost or organic matter to improve fertility.
Space your okra plants 12-18 inches apart to allow them room to grow and spread. Rows should be spaced about 36 inches apart.
Water
Water deeply at the base of the plants when the top inch of soil feels dry. Okra is drought-tolerant once established, but it grows best with consistent moisture, especially during flowering and pod production.
Care During Growing Season
Okra is a heavy feeder, so use a balanced fertilizer at planting time, and then feed the plants again halfway through the growing season. Alternatively, use compost to enrich the soil.
Apply mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds.
Okra, generally, doesn't need much pruning. Remove and dead or damaged leaves as needed to encourage better air circulation.
How to Harvest Okra
Okra pods are best harvested when they are young and tender, about 2-4 inches long. If left too long, they become tough and woody. It's important to harvest every few days to encourage the plant to produce more pods.
The pods will have a bright green color when they are ready to harvest. If they turn slightly dull or begin to harden, they are past their prime.
Use a knife, scissors or garden shears to cut the okra pods from the plant. Be careful not to damage the plant or other pods when cutting.
Okra plants have spiny stems and pods, so wear gloves when harvesting to avoid getting pricked. Handle the pods gently to avoid bruising.
After Harvesting
Fresh okra should be used as soon as possible for the best flavor and texture. However, if you need to store it, keep it in the refrigerator in a paper bag or vented plastic bag for up to a week.
Okra can also be frozen for long-term storage. To freeze, wash and trim the pods, blanch them in boiling water for 3 minutes, then cool them in ice water. Dry them throughly and store in freezer bags for up to 6 months.