Omari Gates
Okra, also known as Lady's Fingers, is a vegetable that can be grown in gardens or pots. Okra seeds should be sown in late winter to the end of summer in warm climates, in spring and early summer in temperate climates, and in late spring and early summer in cool climates. The seeds should be planted in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. To promote growth, the soil should be improved with organic matter such as compost and well-aged manure. The seeds should be soaked overnight before planting and spaced 50-60 cm apart. Young okra plants need protection from pests and weather until they are established. Okra is drought-tolerant but produces a better yield with regular water.
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What You'll Learn
Okra seed preparation and sowing
Okra seeds do not require any treatment before sowing. However, you can speed up germination by soaking the seeds in warm water for a few hours or overnight before sowing.
Okra can be grown from seed or established plants. If growing from seed, start by filling trays, punnets, or small pots with a good-quality seed-raising mix. Sow seeds 6-10 mm deep and keep the soil moist but never wet or dry. Seeds should germinate in around 10-14 days at a soil temperature of 23-33°C.
Okra seeds should be sown from late winter to the end of summer in warm climates, in spring and early summer in temperate climates, and in late spring and early summer in cool climates. In cooler climates, you can start okra seeds indoors in late winter or early spring and plant them into your garden once the risk of frost has passed and the nights are warmer. In tropical and subtropical climates, okra is best grown during the dry season.
When the seedlings have their first true leaves and are about 5-10 cm tall, they can be transplanted to the garden. Space the plants 50-60 cm apart, with rows 100 cm apart. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Carefully remove the seedling from the tray, punnet, or pot, place it in the hole, and backfill around the roots with soil.
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Climate and timing
Okra can be grown in all areas of Australia, but the timing of planting varies depending on the climate. In warm climates, sow seeds from late winter to the end of summer. In temperate climates, sow in spring and early summer, and in cool climates, sow in late spring and early summer, after the risk of frost has passed. Okra is not frost tolerant, so it's important to wait until nights are warmer before planting.
Okra grows best in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates, but can also be grown in arid or semi-arid regions, and cold climates over summer when there is no likelihood of frost. In tropical and subtropical climates, it is best to grow okra during the dry season to avoid fungal problems, which can also occur in areas with high humidity or when plants are spaced too closely together.
Okra seeds should be sown 6-10mm deep and will germinate in around 12-14 days at a soil temperature of 23-33°C. Young seedlings will need protection from pests, pets, and weather until they are established. It is important to prepare the soil before planting by improving its structure and water-holding capacity with organic matter such as compost, well-aged manure, or a soil improver. Okra plants need at least six hours of full sun each day and well-drained soil.
Okra pods will be ready to harvest approximately 16-20 weeks after sowing. Harvest pods regularly while they are young and tender, usually when they are 5-8cm long.
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Soil preparation and planting
Okra is easy to grow from seeds, but it's important to prepare the soil before planting. Okra seeds don't require any treatment before sowing, but you can speed up germination by soaking them in warm water for a few hours or overnight before planting.
Okra grows best in full sun, so choose a spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. The soil should be well-drained and enriched with organic matter such as compost, well-aged manure, or a soil improver and fertiliser mix. Before planting, improve the soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it, and adding aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until you're ready to plant.
When planting okra seeds, sow them about 6-10mm deep and 12-18 inches apart in a row, with rows spaced about 100cm apart. Space the plants 50-60cm apart to improve airflow and prevent fungal problems. You can sow the seeds directly into the garden bed or into small pots or trays filled with a seed-raising mix, and then transplant the seedlings once they are big enough to handle (usually when they are about 5-10cm tall and have their first true leaves). To transplant, dig the planting hole to the same depth as the root ball and twice as wide, carefully place the seedling in the hole, and backfill with soil around the roots.
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Okra plant care
Okra is easy to grow from seeds and can be grown in all areas of Australia during the warmest months. Okra is not frost-tolerant, so in cooler climates, it should be grown in late spring after the risk of frost has passed. Choose a location that receives at least six hours of full sun each day and is protected from strong winds. Okra plants need well-drained soil enriched with organic matter such as compost and well-aged manure.
Before sowing or planting, improve the soil with a soil improver and plant fertiliser. You can also add aged animal manure or compost. Prepare the soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it, and keeping the area free of weeds until planting.
Sow seeds 6-10mm deep directly into the garden or into small pots filled with a seed-raising mix. Space the seeds 50-60cm apart, and seedlings should emerge in 10-14 days. Keep the soil moist but never wet or dry. Transplant seedlings to the garden when they are big enough to handle (usually 5-10cm tall). Space the plants 60cm apart, with rows 100cm apart.
Okra plants may need watering during the growing season, especially during extreme heat. Water when the soil is dry about 5cm below the surface, in the early morning or late afternoon. Mulch around your okra plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Fertilise with a light sprinkle of controlled-release fertiliser around each plant 4-6 weeks after planting.
To prevent fungal diseases, grow okra during the dry season in tropical and subtropical climates, and space plants out to allow adequate airflow. Remove weeds by hand to avoid damaging the okra roots. Aphids and mites can be controlled with an insect spray.
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Common pests and diseases
Okra is susceptible to a range of pests and diseases, particularly fungal infections. The most common fungal disease is blossom blight, caused by the fungus Choanepbora cucurbitarum. This disease is more likely to occur during periods of high humidity, which is often the entire growing season in some climates. The infection causes blossoms and sometimes small pods to be covered in a cottony growth tipped with black fungal fruiting bodies. These pods will fail to develop. To reduce the risk of infection, avoid over-fertilisation, planting in low-lying areas, and using overhead irrigation late in the day. There are currently no fungicides approved for use on okra.
Okra is also susceptible to insect pests. The main foliage-feeding insect pests are silver leaf whitefly, cutworms, rough bollworms, and loopers. Foliage feeders only cause significant damage when their numbers are high or when plants are young or stressed. Silver leaf whitefly, in particular, has a tendency to develop resistance to chemical treatments. Other pests include tiny, dark flea beetles, blister beetles, and caterpillars.
Pod feeders, such as aphids, corn earworms, stink bugs, and leaf-footed bugs, can also cause damage to okra plants. These insects suck juices from the pods and blossoms, causing small, dark, raised blister-like spots on the pods. Frequent harvesting can help to remove corn earworm eggs. Outbreaks of aphids or mites can be controlled with a spray of Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray.
Okra is also susceptible to root-knot eelworm (Meloidogyne incognita), which does not produce a satisfactory crop on infected light or sandy soils.
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Frequently asked questions
Okra can be grown from seed in Australia during the warmest months. In warm climates, sow the seeds from late winter to the end of summer; in temperate climates, sow in spring and early summer; and in cool climates, sow in late spring and early summer.
Okra seeds should be sown 6-10mm deep and 50-60cm apart. The seeds should germinate in 10-14 days at a soil temperature of 23-33°C. Once the seedlings have their first true leaves and are about 5-10cm tall, they can be transplanted to the garden.
Okra seeds should be planted in a sunny spot in a well-drained garden bed or pot. The soil should be improved with organic matter such as compost and well-aged manure before planting. Young seedlings will need protection from pests and weather until they are established. Okra is susceptible to fungal problems in areas with high humidity or when plants are too close together.
