When to plant okra in Charleston
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off Charleston's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 4 – Feb 25
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
May 1 – May 22
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 20 – Jul 5
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
Charleston's 310-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on Charleston's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FEB 8
DEC 15
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in Charleston?
Direct-sow around early May (May 1–May 22) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in Charleston?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 20–Jul 5) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in Charleston?
Start seeds indoors around early February (Feb 4–Feb 25) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
Charleston has roughly 310 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow okra to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow okra 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Charleston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.