Do okra plants come back every year?

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a flowering plant that is grown as an annual in most regions, though the species is a perennial plant in the dry tropical regions where it is native.

Will okra survive winter?

Okra won’t grow in cold temperatures and needs warm air and soil temperatures to germinate and thrive.

How cold can okra plants tolerate?

between 70 and 85 F.
Temperature Range For the best chance of success, plant okra when the air temperature is likely to remain between 70 and 85 F. Okra seedlings can handle heat better than cold, so in frost-prone areas, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the temperature reaches 70 F or higher.

How long do okra plants live?

Harvesting okra The plants can produce for ten to 12 weeks. It grows and bears seed pods until frost, which quickly turns them black and kills them. Start harvesting a few days after the okra blooms fade.

How late in the year can you plant okra?

For the best yields, plant okra in the spring 2 to 3 weeks after all danger of frost has passed. For a good fall crop, plant at least 3 months before the first fall frost.

Is okra an annual or perennial?

Okra Care. Okra is an annual vegetable that loves summer heat.

What is the best temperature to grow okra?

between 75 and 90 °F.
Planting. Okra grows best at temperatures between 75 and 90 °F. When planting okra, gardeners want to ensure that the soil temperature is warm enough so that seeds germinate and begin to grow, as cool soils can lead to slow growth and seedling diseases.

Can a okra plant grow in cold weather?

Okra won’t grow in cold temperatures and needs warm air and soil temperatures to germinate and thrive. Native to Africa, okra is a member of the Malvaceae family, which is the same family as hibiscus – and one look at an okra flower makes it easy to see the family resemblance.

How big of a garden do you need for okra?

Sow the seeds or plant the seedlings. When the weather is warm, it’s time to plant the okra in your garden. Sow your seeds 4 inches (10.2 cm) apart at a depth of 1⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm). If you started your seeds indoors, handle the seedlings very carefully and plant them 1 foot (0.3 m) apart in rows 3 feet (0.9 m) apart.

Is the okra plant in Alabama a perennial?

Alabama is generally a great place to grow okra due to the climate ,but it can get surprisingly cold during the winter which is why it has to be replanted each year. In areas such as within Africa where the plant originates, the climate there is generally quite warm which is why the plant can be a perennial.

When to pick okra pods from the ground?

Pick pods while they are immature at 2 to 3 inches long. Okra plants will present a prolific harvest through the first frost in the fall. Wait to direct sow okra seeds until after the danger of frost has passed in the spring and the soil has warmed. The seeds will not germinate in cold soil.