Okra planting calendar for USDA Zone 9a

Gainesville FL, Houston, New Orleans, southern GA coast. Average last spring frost February 25, first fall frost December 1 — a 279-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Okra is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors
March 11 – April 1
Expected first harvest
May 17 – June 14

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 9a

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 9a

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.