Okra in Zone 11a & 11b
Abelmoschus esculentus
Yes, okra grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside in Aug–Oct.
When to plant okra in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Window | Summer window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Aug–Oct |
| Estimated harvest | ~58 days after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-6 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of okra in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoAug–Feb
- ZucchiniAug–Mar
- EggplantAug–Feb
- Summer Squash (Yellow)Aug–Mar
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Aug–Feb
- 7 Pot Primo PepperAug–Feb
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 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Okra planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6a & 6b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 6–Jul 13 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 21–Jun 28 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jun 5–Jun 12 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Apr 28–May 5 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Feb–May | Mar–Jun | ~58 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window (your zone) | Not usually | Aug–Oct | ~58 days after planting |
Harvest dates are about 58 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Bell 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
Botanical Interests · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's okra seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Clemson Spineless: Listed as a suggested home-garden variety by University of Georgia Extension, an open-pollinated, spineless standard with dark green pods, and the most widely available starting point for first-time okra growers. Buy: Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing okra" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Okra in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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