How to grow okra

Okra – also known as ladies’ fingers or bhindi – is best grown in a greenhouse in the UK, although it may be worth trying outdoors on a hot, sunny patio. The calcium-rich pods are used in soups, stews and curries.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a tender crop that needs plenty of heat and sun, so in the UK it grows more successfully in a greenhouse or polytunnel, although plants may also fruit outdoors in a long hot summer. Okra likes similar conditions to aubergines.

Growing up to 120cm (4ft) tall, okra plants have attractive lobed leaves and hibiscus-like flowers that are followed by long, tapering pods. These are ready to harvest from mid-summer to autumn.

When sliced, the pods produce a sticky liquid during cooking, ideal for thickening stews and curries. They can also be cooked whole in stir-fries, or steamed or sautéed as a side dish. The pods have a mild flavour and are best harvested when young and tender.

There are several varieties of okra to choose from, with plants varying in size. The pods are usually green, but there are varieties with red, pink or white pods.

Once young okra plants are 10–15cm (4–6in) tall, in late May or June, transfer them to their final growing position. In the UK, it’s best to keep okra plants in a greenhouse, either in large pots, growing bags or a greenhouse border.

To plant in a container, choose a pot that’s at least 30cm (1ft) wide and deep, and fill with multi-purpose compost. Position one okra plant in the centre, at the same level it was previously growing, firm in and water well. You can also plant two per growing bag.

To plant in a greenhouse border, enrich the soil with garden compost or well-rotted manure, and space plants 30–90cm (1–3ft) apart.

In warmer areas, okra can be planted outside in a sunny, sheltered spot, in containers or in rich, fertile, well-drained soil. But they will need a hot summer to crop well. From late May or early June, dig lots of garden compost or well-rotted manure into your planting site, then warm the soil for a couple of weeks with cloches or black polythene – see our guide to warming soil.

Meanwhile, gradually acclimatise your young okra plants to outdoor conditions for 10–14 days – see our guide to hardening off. Then plant them 30–90cm (1–3ft) apart and water well. Cover with cloches or fleece for a further two weeks until acclimatised.

To fruit well, okra plants need plenty of heat, as well as regular watering and feeding once flowering starts.

Okra plants produce pods from mid-summer until temperatures drop in autumn, often up to the first frost. Regular picking encourages more pods to form.

Harvest the pods when tender and immature, about 5–10cm (2–4in) long. Handle them gently as the skin is easily marked. Large mature pods become tough and stringy.

Okra plants are covered in short hairs that may irritate bare skin, so wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting or touching them.

The pods can be cooked straight away or frozen for later use.

Okra needs plenty of heat to crop well – so with plants growing outdoors, even in a warm sunny spot, expect fewer fruits than on plants growing in a greenhouse.

Look out for red spider mites and whitefly, and take action at the first sign – biological controls are available. To deter them, improve air circulation in the greenhouse by opening doors and vents, and raise humidity by damping down (pouring water on) the floor.