A little seed. A new beginning.
Seeds In A Cup®A LITTLE SEED. A NEW BEGINNING.

GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL

Okra

Abelmoschus esculentus

Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.

THE PLANT NOTEBOOK

Okra care, from seed onward.

Botanical name
Abelmoschus esculentus
Common names
Lady's Finger, Gumbo, Okra
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Abelmoschus
Species
A. esculentus
01

Start growing

Sow in very warm soil (70-75°F). Needs full sun. Soak seeds 12 hours before planting.

02

Growing with your kit

The Seeds In A Cup® methodology involves pre-warming the soil in the greenhouse lid before sowing the seeds.

03

Propagation

By seed.

04

Seasonal growth & harvest

50-60 days to harvest. Pods grow extremely fast and must be picked daily.

05

Growing conditions

Subtropical and tropical areas with full sun.

06

Weather & tolerances

Highly heat and drought tolerant; zero frost tolerance.

07

Pests & plant health

Root knot nematodes and aphids.

08

Plant safety

Safe; pod hairs can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

09

Botanical features

A tall mallow-family plant with hibiscus-like flowers and edible mucilaginous pods.

10

Varieties

‘Clemson Spineless’, ‘Burgundy’ (Red), ‘Emerald’.

11

Garden & everyday uses

Thickener for soups (Gumbo). fried or pickled. Flowers are also edible

12

Native range & distribution

Indigenous to West Africa and South Asia.

13

Conservation

Secure heirloom and commercial varieties.

14

Name origins

From the Igbo ‘ôkuru’, reflecting its West African heritage.

15

History

Brought to the Americas during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; became a cornerstone of Southern US cuisine.

Grow okra in a cup.