Okra · last checked 2026-09-27
When to plant okra: soil warmth, weeks after frost and state dates
Okra is a heat lover. Seed sown into cold ground tends to sit and rot, so the Extension pages we read put warm soil ahead of the calendar.
Below, each line says which Extension service it comes from and links to their page. Where two services give different spacing, both are listed.
When to plant
- Illinois Extension says to sow okra once the spring soil has warmed, which is likely a week to ten days after your area's last frost, because the seed germinates poorly in cool ground. Okra (Home Vegetable Gardening) · checked 2026-09-27
Soil temperature
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says okra plants best in soil between 70 and 95 °F, and gardeners should wait if a soil thermometer four inches down reads under 65 °F. How to Grow Okra in South Carolina (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
State planting dates
| Who says | Region | Planting window | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson Cooperative Extension says | South Carolina, Piedmont counties | Spring: May 15 to July 15. Fall planting is not recommended. | How to Grow Okra in South Carolina (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27 |
| Clemson Cooperative Extension says | South Carolina, Coastal Plain counties | Spring: May 1 to June 30. Fall planting is not recommended. | How to Grow Okra in South Carolina (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27 |
Spacing
- Illinois Extension says to sow seed an inch deep in hills 12 to 24 inches apart, then keep only the strongest seedling in each hill once they reach about three inches tall. Okra (Home Vegetable Gardening) · checked 2026-09-27
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says rows should be 3 to 6 feet apart with one plant every 9 to 12 inches, seeded about three-quarters of an inch deep. How to Grow Okra in South Carolina (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
Harvest
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says pods are ready roughly 60 to 70 days after planting, when they are 2 to 3 inches long. How to Grow Okra in South Carolina (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
- Illinois Extension says pods are best picked at about two inches, three at most, and plants should be checked every day because pods toughen fast. Okra (Home Vegetable Gardening) · checked 2026-09-27
Unless a line says otherwise, weeks are counted from the average last spring frost where you live. Find that date through your state’s Extension service. See how these pages are put together.