10 Okra Companion Plants That Will Improve Your Crop

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a breeze to grow in Southern gardens. The plant is native to Africa, so the South's summers and dry weather are no problem. Throw some of these beauties in your garden and wait for them to erupt in flowers that will soon transform into those edible seedpods that make the perfect addition to Southern tables throughout summer and fall.

To make sure your okra thrives, put it in the garden alongside plants that will repel bugs, help prevent disease, and help the okra reach its full potential. The good news is that okra grows well next to most things. That said, there are some plants that it does better next to more so than others. Here’s a list of okra companion plants to help your crop thrive.

How To Grow Okra

First things first—okra is an easy vegetable to grow in the garden. It loves heat and can tolerate drought. Plant it in full sun once the soil temperature has warmed to 70˚F, and water enough to keep the soil from drying out. Okra pods grow quickly, emerging about five days after the yellow flowers appear. Harvest okra pods when they are about 3 inches long for ideal tenderness. 

How To Use Companion Plants

Give garden plants like okra a boost by growing them with compatible plants that will help them grow. Companion plants are beneficial to other plants or each other in different ways. Some attract pollinators to the garden, boosting crop production. Some control weeds that compete for nutrients and water by growing in their place. Others shade the soil to help maintain moisture. They can also enrich the soil, help repel pests, and help prevent diseases. Mixing fruits and vegetables with flowers and herbs can also maximize garden space, with taller plants shading lower ones. Companion planting also allows you to grow slow-growing plants with faster ones.

Here are the best companions for okra:

Radishes

• Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, loose
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)
  

Radish seedlings work well near okra because the roots loosen up the soil as they grow, making it easier in turn for okra to grow and thrive. They are fast growing, ready to pick in about a month. Plant them in a sunny location at least 6 inches deep in well-drained soil to give them space for root formation.

Cucumbers

• Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, rich
• Soil pH: Acidic (6.0-6.5)

As long as cucumbers have enough space to spread out in the sun, they make excellent companions for okra because they both love a lot of water and rich soil. Cucumbers grow quickly. They love warmer temperatures and do not tolerate frost, so plant them after the last frost. Planting cucumbers near okra can help give them some shade to prevent scorching.

Peppers

• Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, sandy, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-8.0)

Cabbage worms hate pepper plants, which is good news for okra. Those worms may be named for cabbage, but they love okra, too, and will destroy a crop. Put a few pepper plants nearby and those pesky worms will stay away. Grow them in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Like okra, they love warm temperatures.

Peas

• Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, rich
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.5)

You should place pea sprouts between okra seedlings because they produce vegetables at different times so they don't compete for space or resources. That means by the time the okra is spreading and sprouting, the peas will have already produced their crops. Give them organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun where they have some shelter.

Melons

• Botanical Name: Citrillus lanatus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy
• Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Melons love sun and water, making them an excellent option to plant alongside okra. Watermelon vines will decrease competition from weeds. Plus the height difference means okra can shade the vines from the full afternoon sun. They are warm-season crops and like sun and well-draining soil.

Lettuce

• Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained, rich
• Soil pH: Acidic (6.0-6.5)

Okra is a great next-door neighbor for lettuce or any tender-leaved plant because it grows tall enough that it can provide shade from the summer heat. Grow lettuce between okra plants in loose, well-drained soil. The shallow roots of lettuce won’t compete with the water and nutrients that okra needs.

Basil

• Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.5)

This herb's strong smell can repel some of the pests that like to turn okra into a buffet. Specifically, stink bugs, aphids, and spider mites aren't big fans of basil's aroma. Basil thrives in sun and heat, but it can take afternoon shade in hotter climates. Keep its soil moist but not soggy. Pollinators are attracted to basil flowers.

Zinnias

• Botanical Name: Zinnia spp.
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (5.5-7.5)

Pretty blooms make great companions for okra. Not only do they look gorgeous, but brightly colored flowers like zinnias can attract pollinators, which will visit the okra blooms too. That's good news for okra lovers because it usually results in large, plump pods, which means more okra to go around. Zinnias thrive in warm temperatures and full sun and bloom from summer through fall. Give them moist, well-drained soil. Some varieties need to be deadheaded to encourage more blooming.

Oregano

• Botanical Name: Origanum
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy
• Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.0)

A patch of oregano can be beneficial to your okra crop. Oregano’s strong fragrance will help deter pests that could harm okra as well as attract pollinators to the garden to increase production. It also grows low along bare soil, can help control weeds from growing near okra’s base, and doesn’t compete for space. It likes sun but can benefit from afternoon shade in hotter climates. It is easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and compact.

Sunflowers

• Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic (6.0-6.8)

Like zinnias, sunflowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, bees, and other pollinators that will help pollinate the garden, and that’s good for your crop of okra and whatever other vegetables are nearby. Pollinators move from the sunflowers to the okra blooms, encouraging okra production. They also act as a windbreak for more delicate plants in the garden. Give them lots of sun and loose, well-draining soil.

How To Use Your Okra Crop

Whether you are whipping up a batch of classic New Orleans-style gumbo, want to pop some okra in your air fryer, add it to a tuna roll (trust us on this), or add it to your shrimp po'boy, it's easy to use okra in the kitchen. If your okra crop is exceptionally successful and you find that you have more than you can eat, it's easy to pickle or freeze any extra to keep all year round.