Okra in Zone 10a & 10b

Abelmoschus esculentus

When to plant okra in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. In your zone, Okra needs a head start on the heat that direct-sowing elsewhere doesn't require.

Window	Spring window
Start indoors	Feb–May
Direct sow / transplant outside	Mar–Jun
Estimated harvest	Apr 28–Aug 27 (~58 days after transplanting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-6 ft.

Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.

Okra thrives in exactly the conditions that shut down cooler-season crops: intense heat, and plenty of it. Where lettuce bolts and beans stall, okra keeps flowering and setting pods, making it one of the few reliable producers during the hottest weeks of summer.

How okra fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Okra needs about 58 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

Pepper: Similar heat and water needs make them easy bed-mates.
Basil: Reputed to repel aphids that also target okra, though this specific pairing hasn't been tested — the closest controlled trial found no pest-reduction benefit from basil on a related crop, so treat this as unproven garden tradition.

Where to buy okra seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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