Okra planting calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good

Okra is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors

May 8 – May 29

Expected first harvest

July 14 – August 11

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 12″
Row spacing: 36″
Seed depth: 1″
Soil temperature: 75–95°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 60 days

Grower notes for Zone 6b

Soak seed overnight to speed germination. Harvest pods at 3–4 inches every other day or they turn woody.

Plant near: peppers, basil

Other cucurbits for Zone 6b

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

Join the pilot Browse resources