When to plant Okra in Riverside County, California, United States

Okra can be planted after April 16, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 50°F and 105°F and soil temperature is above 45°F.

Growing Okra in Riverside County

Riverside County has on average 55 continious days, suitable for growing Okra. Okra needs on average between 50 and 60 days to mature and produce harvest.

Growing season for Okra in Riverside County is quite short, with only 55 continious days suitable for growing, so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

Okra seeds can be planted between April 16 and April 20. Planting before April 16 without any additional protection is not advised because cold streaks can damage or kill off young plant. When planting after April 20, Okra will not have enough time to mature and produce harvest.

Growing season extention

In order to maximize chances for a good harvest of Okra in Riverside County, some extra steps can be taken to extend growing season.

Start seeds indoors

When starting seeds indoors, it is possible to guarantee best possible conditions for young seedlings. Consistent temperature range, adequate watering and ample light (natural, supplemented with artifitial grow lights) will ensure you have strong and healthy seedlings just in time for transplanting into soil.

It takes 28 days on average for Okra to sprout, and grow big enough to be ready for transplanting.

Riverside County has 2 distinct seasons for growing Okra

• In order to get plants ready for April 16 seeds should be started indoors bwetween March 19 and April 10

  Seeds started after April 10 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  This Okra growing season in Riverside County is quite short, with only 55 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

• In order to get plants ready for September 10 seeds should be started indoors bwetween August 13 and August 28

  Seeds started after August 28 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  This Okra growing season in Riverside County is quite short, with only 48 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

Use a cold frame

When using a cold frame in a beggining of growing season You can protect young plants from possible temperature drops, this way growing season can start up to 2 weeks earlier.

Use an additional shading

On days, when air temperatures are expected to raise above 105°F, which is in top of tolerable range for Okra, consider using additional shading to prevent heat shock.

Table with days suitable to grow vegetables in Riverside County, California