When to plant okra in New York City
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off New York City's last spring frost of Mar 30.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 13 – Apr 3
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jun 8 – Jun 29
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 28 – Aug 12
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
New York City's 234-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on New York City'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
FROST
MAR 30
NOV 19
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in New York City?
Direct-sow around early June (Jun 8–Jun 29) in New York City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in New York City?
Expect to harvest from around late July (Jul 28–Aug 12) in New York City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in New York City?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 13–Apr 3) in New York City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in New York City?
New York City has roughly 234 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 York City's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.