Divisi
When to plant Okra in Al Salam
Cairo, Egypt
Okra (derere, idelele, lady's finger, gumbo) is a tall, hairy, hot-weather vegetable grown for its tender green pods — the slippery, 'drawing' relish that thickens the pot.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 22 Mar 2026 – 18 Sep 2026 closed for this season |
| Expected harvest | about 14.2 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 6 May 2026 to 22 Nov 2026, depending on the planting date |
| Ready to harvest | 45–65 days after planting |
Rain-fed. These dates are worked out from each place's own rainfall, for a field watered by the season — with irrigation a window can open earlier, close later, or come round more than once a year. Check your own field under What grows, or get the Divisi app for a calendar dated to your farm.
If you only get one chance to plant, aim for around 22 Mar 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Al Salam is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 18 Sep 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Al Salam
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 76% |
For okra in Al Salam, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 76%. You cannot flatten it, but you can farm it: plant along the contour rather than up and down, ridge or tie ridges to hold water on the slope, and expect shallower rooting than the crop would manage on flat ground.
The season in Al Salam
| Rain in a typical year | About 21 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 21 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth |
| Ground this covers | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 75% of this area. |
| 75% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 20 mm |
|---|---|
| 25% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 20 mm |
last updated 18 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What okra needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 6.7 |
| Spacing | 53 cm between rows, 38 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium |
What it takes to grow okra in Al Salam
| Planting material | About 55,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 71 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 14 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 78 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. A nitrogen top dressing — urea or AN — goes on once the crop is established. |
These are the nutrients a okra crop of that size carries off the field. What you actually apply depends on what your soil already holds — which is what a soil test, or the app's field records, tell you.
What to watch for
Grow Okra with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Al Salam as a whole — your own soil, slope and rainfall will shift the dates. The Divisi app works them out for your field, and dates each job that follows.
This calendar moves
Planting windows shift with the forecast. Leave your email and we'll send what changed, and a note when planting time nears — a couple of emails a month at most.
Frequently asked questions
Will okra grow well in Al Salam?
Al Salam rates as favourable for okra.
When should I plant okra in Al Salam?
Typically 22 Mar 2026 to 18 Sep 2026, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Al Salam, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.