Pick okra pods while they are still small, about two to four inches long. Cut them every one or two days.
Pick the pods while they are still small
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Cut pods at about two to four inches | Leaving a five-inch woody pod on the plant |
| How often | Every one or two days once fruiting starts | A weekly walk that misses the tender window |
| Gloves | Wear gloves and long sleeves; the hairs irritate skin | Bare arms on a hairy stem |
| Keep going | Cut off missed woody pods so new flowers keep coming | Leaving old pods to seed while you wait for more bloom |
Cut pods when they are about two to four inches long, usually a few days after the flower opens. Pick at least every other day in heat. If you leave a woody pod on the plant, new flowers slow down. [1] Wear gloves and long sleeves, because the hairs can irritate skin. [2] okra is the gumbo harvest. sunset hibiscus is the related yellow flower — do not pick its seed pods as okra.
How big should okra pods be when I pick them?
Pick them at two to four inches. Larger pods turn tough and stringy. Harvest every other day in heat.
How to harvest okra
Cut one young pod at a time, handle it gently, and pull off any woody pod the same day.
- Cut pods at two to four inches with a knife or shears. If the stem is hard to cut, the pod is too old to eat — take it off anyway. [3]
- Harvest every one to two days once fruiting starts, and handle pods gently because they bruise if you toss them in a bucket.
- Keep unwashed pods dry and cool, and use them within a few days. Wet pods turn slimy in the refrigerator. [4]
How often should I pick okra?
Every one or two days in heat. Pods can jump from tender to woody overnight.
If picking slows, cut the plants back
If flowers stall in midsummer heat, cut stems back to about six to twelve inches, water, and feed lightly so new shoots set pods before frost. Most home patches skip that cut and just keep harvesting on a shorter plant.
If a pod turns woody, cut it off the same day — that plant will keep flowering if you do not leave the old pods on.
FAQ
How should I store the pods?
Keep them dry and unwashed in the refrigerator and use them within a few days. Wet pods turn slimy.
Can I save seed from a woody pod?
Yes, on an open-pollinated plant. Leave a few pods to dry at the end of the season, then shell the seed. Hybrid packets will not come true.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-okra-home-garden - [2] University of Maryland Extension -
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-okra-home-garden - [3] Illinois Extension -
https://extension.illinois.edu/gardening/okra - [4] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/how-to-grow-okra-in-south-carolina-including-planting-dates-watering-fertilizing-ratooning-pest-management-and-harvesting-tips-for-healthy-pod-production/
This note is part of Abelmoschus Guides.
More harvest timing notes by plant live in Harvesting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors