When to plant okra in New Orleans
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off New Orleans's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 11 – Mar 4
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Apr 14 – May 5
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 3 – Jun 18
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
New Orleans's 304-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on New Orleans'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 9
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in New Orleans?
Direct-sow around mid April (Apr 14–May 5) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in New Orleans?
Expect to harvest from around early June (Jun 3–Jun 18) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 73%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in New Orleans?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 11–Mar 4) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
How long is the growing season in New Orleans?
New Orleans has roughly 304 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 New Orleans's frost dates.
Confidence 81/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.