When to plant okra in Houston
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off Houston's last spring frost of Jan 26.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 5 – Feb 26
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Mar 28 – Apr 18
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
May 17 – Jun 1
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
Houston's 317-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on Houston'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
JAN 26
DEC 9
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in Houston?
Direct-sow around late March (Mar 28–Apr 18) in Houston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in Houston?
Expect to harvest from around mid May (May 17–Jun 1) in Houston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in Houston?
Start seeds indoors around early February (Feb 5–Feb 26) in Houston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
How long is the growing season in Houston?
Houston has roughly 317 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 Houston's frost dates.
Confidence 84/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.