Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
Hibiscus-like flowers and pods that grow an inch overnight; pick daily.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 5 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: NE Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: African savannas & tropics, West & Central African forests. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Okra came from the highlands of Ethiopia and was grown in Egypt by the 1200s; enslaved West Africans carried it to the Americas, and gumbo takes its name from a Bantu word for the pod. It thrives in heat that wilts everything else.
Planting
Full sun and any drained soil; sow seed directly once the soil is warm, an inch deep, 12 inches apart. Soak seed overnight.
Growing
Water in dry spells; it is drought-tolerant and hates cold. Feed lightly. Plants reach 6 feet in hot summers.
Harvest and use
Pick pods at 2 to 4 inches every other day; they turn woody fast. Wear long sleeves against the irritating hairs. Summer until frost.
What to watch for
Aphids, stink bugs, nematodes in sandy soil, and cold soil at sowing.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home