Okra: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
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Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Okra with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 18, transplant ~May 6 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About okra
Okra thrives in summer heat that defeats most other crops, producing daily harvests of tender pods for gumbo, frying, roasting, and pickling.
Spacing & yield
Okra wants 12×36 inches and about 3 lb per plant at ~60 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Soak seeds overnight in warm water to soften the hard coat and speed germination.
- Wait until soil temperatures reach at least 65 F before transplanting — okra stalls in cold soil.
- Harvest pods every 1-2 days at 3-4 inches long; larger pods become tough and fibrous.
- Wear long sleeves when harvesting — okra leaves have irritating spines on many varieties.
Common mistakes
- Transplanting too early into cool soil, causing weeks of stalled growth.
- Letting pods mature past 4 inches, which signals the plant to slow production.
- Under-spacing plants; 12 inches in-row is necessary for airflow around these tall plants.
Harvest & storage
Cut pods at 2-4 inches long with a knife or pruners, starting about 60 days from transplant.
Use within 2-3 days or blanch and freeze; okra does not store well fresh.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for okra: peppers, melons, cucumbers, basil. Avoid planting beside: squash vine crops too close by.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 4 weeks before last frost, then transplant 3 weeks after frost. Warm soil required — transplant after soil warms. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should okra be planted?
- Space 12 inches in-row with 36 inches between rows — plants grow 4-6 feet tall and need airflow.
- How much okra does one plant produce?
- A healthy plant yields about 3 lb of pods over a 6-8 week harvest window in warm climates.
- When can okra be transplanted outdoors?
- Wait until 3 weeks after last frost when soil has warmed to at least 65 F — okra needs true heat.