When to plant okra in Tucson
Okra is frost-tender, so every date keys off Tucson's last spring frost of Feb 27.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 17 – Mar 10
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
May 2 – May 23
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 21 – Jul 6
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 65 d
Tucson's 278-day season leaves this much room.
Okra on Tucson'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
FEB 27
NOV 27
Common questions
When can I sow okra outdoors in Tucson?
Direct-sow around early May (May 2–May 23) in Tucson, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
When will okra be ready to harvest in Tucson?
Expect to harvest from around late June (Jun 21–Jul 6) in Tucson, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When should I start okra seeds indoors in Tucson?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 17–Mar 10) in Tucson, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
How long is the growing season in Tucson?
Tucson has roughly 278 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 Tucson's frost dates.
Confidence 83/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.