When to plant okra in Philadelphia
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off Philadelphia's last spring frost of Mar 28.
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 3 – Jun 24
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 23 – Aug 7
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
Philadelphia's 234-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on Philadelphia'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 28
NOV 22
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in Philadelphia?
Direct-sow around early June (Jun 3–Jun 24) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in Philadelphia?
Expect to harvest from around late July (Jul 23–Aug 7) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in Philadelphia?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 13–Apr 3) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.
How long is the growing season in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia's frost dates.
Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.