Okra PrOductiOn in
califOrnia
JOSÉ l. aGuiar, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Riverside
County; Milt McGiffEn, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences,
University of California, Riverside; Eric natWick, UC Cooperative
Extension Farm Advisor, Imperial County; EtafEraHu takElE, UC
Cooperative Extension Area Farm Advisor, Southern California Counties
PrOductiOn arEaS
California has relatively little acreage in okra
(Abelmoschus esculentus L.), but it is an important cash
crop for small-scale farmers. Imperial County has
the most okra production with 184 acres (74 ha), and
other counties produce small amounts.
land PrEParatiOn
Preliminary tillage and planting groundwork opera-
tions include chopping prior crop residues, disk-
ing, subsoiling, floating, and listing beds. Chopped
residues should be disked while there is still some
soil moisture to avoid forming large, hard clods on
heavier soils. The breakdown rate of crop residues
depends on temperature, moisture, soil aeration,
ample nitrogen, and the particle size of crop residues.
Stubble is disked across the previous crop rows to
ensure good aeration of the soil, adequate burial of
organic matter, and to aid in the control of pests and
diseases.
VariEtiES and PlantinG
Most California commercial okra cultivars are green,
ribbed, spineless types. Clemson Spineless, the stan-
dard open-pollinated variety, has been grown for
over 40 years. It is still used because of low seed
cost and wide adaptation. Its dark green pods are
slightly grooved, and the plants are about 4 feet (1.2
m) tall. Clemson Spineless 80 is an open-pollinated
selection from Clemson Spineless with shorter plants
and greater uniformity. Annie Oakley F1 is a very
prolific hybrid that produces bright green pods and
nearly double the yield of standard varieties. Growers
are reluctant to plant it because seed is much more
expensive than open-pollinated varieties. Other vari-
eties that have been grown or are under trial include
Green Best F1, Penta-Green OP, Annie Oakley II,
Emerald, Picacho, Velvet, and Lee.
Planting should begin after the last killing frost.
The best time to plant the spring crop in the southern
desert valleys is from the first of February to the end
of March. The fall crop is planted from mid-June to
mid-July. The soil temperature should be at least 60ºF
(16ºC) for adequate germination. Studies show that it
takes 17 days for plants to emerge at 68ºF (20ºC), 13
days at 77ºF (25ºC), and 7 days at 86ºF (30ºC).
Rows should be spaced from 26 to 40 inches (0.65 to
1 m) apart, depending on the equipment. Seed should
be planted about 1.5 inches (3.7 cm) deep. Most grow-
ers plant about 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of seed per acre, but
the amount of seed used can be substantially reduced
by precision planting. This amount gives an approxi-
mate spacing of 5 to 7 seed per foot of row. When the
plants reach a height of 3 inches (7.5 cm), they should
be thinned to 6 to 9 inches (15 to 22.5 cm) apart. In
some states, 4- to 6-week-old okra transplants are used
to establish a stand. These plants have 3 to 4 true leaves
at transplanting time and are spaced 9 inches apart.
SOilS
Okra will grow on many soil types, and management
should adjust to the soil type. In sandy soils (e.g., the
Coachella Valley), fertilize frequently as soluble nutri-
ents leach readily from the crop root zone.
irriGatiOn
The crop may be planted in moist soil (mulch plant-
ing) or furrow-irrigated for the initial irrigation. If
the soil has adequate moisture at planting, the young
seedlings will grow to 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm)
before another irrigation is needed. Excessive irriga-
tion in chilly weather tends to cool the soil and retard
plant growth. As the plants mature, the crop should
Vegetable
Production Series
vric.ucdavis.edu
UC Vegetable Research
& Information Center
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resources
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu • Publication 7210
Okra acrEaGE and ValuE
Year Acres
average yield
(tons/acre)
Gross
value/acre
2007 223 3.4 $3,348
2006 417 4.0 $3,760
2005 504 5.0 $4,904
Source: uSDA/National Agricultural Statistics Services;
california county Agricultural commissioners’ Data, 2005–2007.
http://vric.ucdavis.edu
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu
not be stressed for moisture if maximum yields are
to be obtained. At harvest, irrigate alternate furrows
(depressions between rows) to provide a dry place to
walk during harvest. Subsequent irrigation should be
applied to the dry furrow.
fErtiliZatiOn
Growers typically apply 100 pounds per acre (112 kg/
ha) of 11-52-0 or other ammoniated phosphate fertil-
izers that contain both phosphorous (P) and nitrogen
(N). Dry fertilizer is broadcast flat and listed into the
beds. Some growers inject ammoniated phosphate
(5-35-0) at 15 gallons per acre (168 l/ha) 4 inches (10
cm) below and 1 inch (2.5 cm) to the side of the seed
rows. A preplant application of chicken manure may
be substituted for chemical fertilizers. The manure
should be broadcast applied 1 week or more prior to
listing, then disked into the soil.
Growers sidedress an additional application of 40 to
60 pounds of nitrogen per acre (45 to 67 kg/ha) about
6 weeks after planting. Sources of nitrogen such as dry
ammonium nitrate (34-0-0), AN-20 (liquid ammonium
nitrate, 20-0-0), dry urea (46-0-0), UAN-32 (liquid urea–
ammonium nitrate, 32-0-0), or aqua ammonia (21-0-0)
may be used. However, when plants are small direct
placement of fertilizer with a tractor-mounted applica-
tor is more efficient than sidedress applications as the
fertilizer can be precisely placed in the crop root zone
when the plants are small.
intEGratEd PESt ManaGEMEnt
Weed management. Early-season cultivation for weed
control should be shallow so as not to injure young
okra roots. A preplant herbicide should be worked
into the soil. Which herbicide to use depends on
which weeds predominate. Consult your UCCE Farm
Advisor or licensed pest control adviser for advice as
registered herbicides change often. Select fields free of
nutsedge for optimal yields.
insect identification and control. Cutworms (Agrotis
subterranean (Fabricius) and Perodroma saucia (Hübner)),
crickets (Gryllus spp.), and earwigs (Forficula auricularia
Linnaeus) attack okra during stand establishment and
may clip-off seedlings. During the growing season,
silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype
B) and cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) can be
present in damaging numbers, causing direct injury
from feeding, and honeydew may support the growth
of sooty molds, reducing photosynthesis. Honeydew
from aphids and whiteflies can also contaminate fruit,
rendering it unmarketable. Near harvest, tobacco bud-
worm (Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)), corn earworms
(Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)), silverleaf whitefly, beet army-
worm (Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)), cabbage looper
(Trichoplusia ni (Hübner)), lygus bugs (Lygus hespe-
rus), and stinkbugs, including Consperse stink bug
(Euschistus conspersus); Say stink bug (Chlorochroa sayi);
and western brown stink bug (Euschistus impictiventris)
can attack the crop. Consult your local UCCE Farm
Advisor or a licensed pest control adviser for informa-
tion on specific pest problems. Chemicals that may be
legally used to control these pests change frequently.
Check the label of the material for current registration
information before treating a field.
disease identification and management. Damping
off, caused by soilborne fungi (Pythium and Rhizoctonia
spp.), may be controlled by a fungicidal seed treat-
ment. Make sure all plant residue from previous crops
is decomposed as residues increase the incidence of
damping off. Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
vasinfectum) is a fungal disease that destroys okra. The
water-transporting cells in the plant become clogged
with fungi, and the plants droop and wilt. Crop rota-
tion is the best control. To avoid this disease, do not
plant okra, eggplant, or tomatoes in the same field
more than once every 4 years.
Other pests. Okra is very susceptible to root knot
nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), which reduce crop yields
and cause secondary infection by fungi in the roots.
Avoid soils continually cropped with okra because they
may be infested with root knot nematodes.
HarVESt and HandlinG
The immature pod (the edible part of the okra plant)
is harvested when still tender. Harvesting is normally
done by hand every 2 to 3 days, or more often under
very warm conditions. The crop is ready for harvest
about 4 to 6 days after flowering, when the pods
reach 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm) long. The first pods
may be ready to harvest 2 months after planting. The
crop will continue to bear for several months under
ideal conditions, especially when overmature pods
are removed on a regular basis. Overmature pods are
more fibrous and lower in quality and value.
Okra that is 3 inches (7.5 cm) long or smaller is
marketed as Extra Fancy; okra that is longer than 3
inches is sold as Fancy. Harvested okra is packed in
20-pound (9- kg) waxed cartons or wooden flats. The
pods must be handled with care as they are subject to
bruising. The bruises will turn black a few hours after
rough handling. Harvesters should wear soft cotton
gloves to help prevent pod damage. Okra should
never be stored in large bins or hampers for any
length of time. Because okra has a high respiration
rate, the pods will bleach due to lack of proper venti-
lation and excess heating.
POStHarVESt HandlinG
Okra, a very delicate vegetable, should be marketed
immediately after harvesting. It should be stored at
45ºF (7ºC) and a relative humidity of 90 to 95 percent.
At this temperature and humidity, shelf life is 7 to 10
2 • Okra Production in California
days. At higher temperatures, the pods yellow, tough-
en, and start to decay. As little as 3 percent moisture
loss causes okra to wilt.
Okra may be spray washed or placed in a large
water tank for cleaning. Wash water may be chlori-
nated to 75 to 100 ppm of free chlorine. Excess water
should be removed after packing. Never use top ice on
okra cartons or baskets: the ice will cause water spots
on the pods after 2 to 3 days. Okra is subject to chilling
injury below 45ºF (7ºC). Damage will consist of surface
pitting, pod discoloration, and excessive decay.
In general, okra has the same storage requirements
as green beans, cucumber, eggplant, peppers, and
squash. These products may be stored together with-
out deleterious effect. Okra should not be stored with
melons, bananas, apples, or other produce that give
off ethylene gas.
MarkEtinG
Leading okra-producing states are Texas, Georgia,
California, and Florida. Supplies peak in June,
July, and August. California ships okra from June
through October. Mexico exports okra year-round,
but exports to the United States are highest from June
to September.
cOStS Of PrOductiOn
The costs of okra production vary with location.
Costs for water, land lease, and production inputs
(fertilizer, pesticide, etc.) depend on weather, soil, and
other factors. Generally, Okra production is particu-
larly labor intensive in harvest and requires certain
skills for harvesting. Costs include about 8 percent
in cultural operating costs, 88 percent in harvest, and
about 3% in fixed overhead costs. For more informa-
tion on sample costs for okra production in Riverside
County, see the publication Production Practices
and Sample Costs to Produce Okra: Furrow Irrigated,
Coachella Valley, Riverside County (1995–96), at the UC
Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Web
site, http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu/files/okra96.pdf.
Though the sample cost is old, it provides a general
perspective of the breakdown of costs and the typical
production practices for Riverside County. Current
costs can be approximated by multiplying the costs
given in the publication by about 2 percent per year.
3 • Okra Production in California
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OKRA PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA
Production Areas
Land Preparation
Varieties and Planting
Okra Acreage and Value
Soils
Irrigation
Fertilization
Integrated Pest Management
Harvest and Handling
Postharvest Handling
Marketing
Costs of Production
For Further Information