fruit · direct sow
Okra: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating okra a few times a week needs about 10 plants in ~45 sq ft, worth about $80 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~14 sq ft | ~6 | ~$24 |
| 2 people | 5 | ~23 sq ft | ~10 | ~$40 |
| 4 people | 10 | ~45 sq ft | ~19 | ~$80 |
| 6 people | 15 | ~68 sq ft | ~29 | ~$120 |
Spacing
18" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
55 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Jun 5 – Jul 8 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 31 – Jul 18 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 21 – Jul 21 | — |
| Zone 6 | May 11 – Jul 11 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 26 – Jun 26 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 15 – Jun 15 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 13 – May 13 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 21 – Apr 23 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Pods 2 to 4 inches, snapped off easily with a finger. Check every single day in summer.
Don't wait: Past 4 to 5 inches pods turn woody in about 48 hours, compost those, and keep picking so the plant keeps producing.
Yield
About 2 lbs per plant over ~10 productive weeks (~2 lb). Fair warning: this is a famous over-producer, pick every 2-3 days or it buries you.
Neighbors
Plays well with pepper.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
33 kcal · 3.2 g fiber · 23 mg vitamin C · 299 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Okra cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Okra planting questions
How many okra plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 10 plants, which takes around 45 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does okra need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant okra?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing okra worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $80 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.