Knowing when to harvest okra will make a big difference in how it tastes. Tender, young okra is delicious but large, older pods will be tough and fibrous.
The first okra pods should be ready to harvest about 60 to 70 days after planting when pods are 2 to 3 inches long. Okra pods develop continuously over the summer, growing very fast on the plant, and should be harvested every two days (or more!)
Read on for tips on harvesting okra, including signs they're ready and how to do it the right way.
Harvesting Tips
Allowing the pods to mature on the plant too long actually halts more pods from developing and reduces the total yield of the okra plant.
How to Know Okra Is Ready to Pick
- It's been 2-3 months since you planted. Okra should be ready to harvest 60 to 70 days after planting the seeds. Transplanted seedlings from seeds germinated indoors will produce pods in about 40 to 55 days.
- Okra flowers are wilting away. Okra plants produce large, yellow flowers that look much like a hibiscus. Once the okra blooms have wilted, the pods will form within a few days.
- Pods are 2-3 inches long. The pods should be picked when they are about two to three inches long—bigger is not better for okra pods.
- Pods are vibrantly colored. The pods should be vibrant green or purple, depending on the variety you are growing. Pale pods can be woody.
How to Harvest Okra the Right Way
Wear Protective Gear
Okra leaves and stems plants have spines that can irritate the skin. It is best to wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting okra.
While the pods can be snapped off the stem by hand, it's best to use garden shears or a sharp knife to minimize damage to the plant.
Leave a short stem about one-fourth inch at the top of the okra pod. Keep a bucket or basket close by to collect the pods—they are easily bruised if handled too much.
Okra is best eaten freshly harvested from the garden. If storing, do not wash the pods before placing them in the refrigerator vegetable bin. If properly harvested, handled gently, and stored at temperatures of 45 to 50 °F., the pods should last for about seven days.
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7 Additional Tips for Growing Okra
- Round-podded okra varieties (Louisiana Green Velvet, Emerald, Stewarts Zeebest, Peter Pan, and Greeny Splendor) actually do remain tender at larger pod sizes. Choose them for slicing and food preservation.
- With optimal growing conditions and care, when harvested regularly, okra plants will continue to produce blooms and pods for up to 12 weeks. Each flower produces one okra pod.
- The flowers are edible and make great additions to salads. However, don’t pick them all—the flower, once pollinated, produces the pods.
- While the okra plant is a single stalk, its leaves need plenty of room to grow. Okra should be planted 9-12 inches apart with 3-6 feet between rows.
- Okra can be cut back in late summer to produce new growth and extend the harvest season.
- When harvest time is over, okra pods can be left on the plant to dry to save seed for next year.
- Okra needs full sun, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil to thrive.
FAQ
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What is the longest okra can be when you pick it?
Most varieties of okra pods should be harvested when they are two to three inches long so they are the most tender and flavorful. Round-podded okra varieties will remain tender at larger pod sizes but should be picked before they reach four inches long.
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Does okra grow back after you harvest?
Another pod does not grow back once a pod has been harvested. However, as long as optimum growing conditions are maintained and harvesting is done regularly, okra plants will continue to produce new blooms and pods for up to 12 weeks.
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Should you harvest okra after it flowers?
After an okra blossom is pollinated, it will fade and the pod will begin to form within a few days. Each flower produces one okra pod. The pods should be picked when they are two to three inches long.