When to plant okra in Portland
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off Portland's last spring frost of May 1.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Apr 13 – May 4
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jul 6 – Jul 27
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 25 – Sep 9
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
Portland's 165-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on Portland'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
MAY 1
OCT 10
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in Portland?
Direct-sow around early July (Jul 6–Jul 27) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in Portland?
Expect to harvest from around late August (Aug 25–Sep 9) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in Portland?
Start seeds indoors around mid April (Apr 13–May 4) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Portland?
Portland has roughly 165 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 Portland's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.