Abelmoschus esculentus

RHS Plant Profile

okra

Other common names

gobbo, gombo, gumbo, lady's finger, okro

Annual Biennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbs - Culinary

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A deciduous perennial from tropical regions that is grown as an annual in temperate climates. It has hairy leaves deeply cut into 5-7 lobes and hibiscus-like pale yellow flowers to around 7cm wide with dark centres borne in summer and followed by edible, green seed pods

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Abelmoschus are hairy annuals or perennials with large, usually palmately-lobed leaves and 5-petalled, hibiscus-like, flowers borne in the leaf axils or in terminal racemes
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown under glass or in a polytunnel but can be planted outside in a warm, sunny, sheltered position in a container or in the ground when soil temperature has risen to 15°C. See okra cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Edible fruit
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews