All About Growing Okra

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Illustration By Keith Ward
Grow okra this summer to enjoy some creative cuisine in your kitchen. Think cornmeal-dredged fried okra, okra muffins, okra succotash and much more.

(For details on growing many other vegetables and fruits, visit our Crop at a Glancecollection page.)

A semi-tropical member of the hibiscus family, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) produces edible flowers, pods and seeds. Okra grows best where both days and nights stay warm in summer, and it is among the easiest summer crops to grow in the humid Southeast. Where growing seasons are cooler, dwarf varieties can be grown in containers. Okra requires full sun and soil temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Types of Okra

Early dwarf okra varieties suitable for small beds and large containers include fast-maturing hybrids such as ‘Annie Oakley II,’ ‘Cajun Delight’ and ‘Baby Bubba.’ These varieties seldom grow more than 4 feet tall, and they start producing pods about 55 days after planting.

Main-season okra varieties include super-productive ‘Clemson Spineless’ and numerous tall heirlooms such as ‘Stewart’s Zeebest’ and ‘Perkins Long Pod,’ which mature about 60 days after planting. These are the good choices if you are growing okra for pickling or freezing.

  • Published on Dec 6, 2013
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