Divisi
When to plant Okra in Obudu
Cross River, Nigeria
Known here as kubewa · ila · okwuru
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.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 31 Mar 2026 – 23 Sep 2026 closed for this season | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | 8.5–8.8 t/ha | about 13.2 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 15 May 2026 to 27 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 31 Mar 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Obudu is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 23 Sep 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Obudu
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 76% |
For okra in Obudu, the soil is the tightest of the three at 76%. This is the one you can actually move. Lime raises a sour soil, manure and compost lift what it holds, and both work within a season or two — money spent here changes the answer.
The 2026 season in Obudu
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2026 to December 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,892 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,892 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +0.9 °C over the growing months. Heat makes the same rain do less, so a dry spell bites sooner: do not plant late, and shade or mulch what you can. |
| What that supports | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 89% of this area. |
| 89% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 287 growing days · about 1,900 mm · March to December |
|---|---|
| 8% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 300 growing days · about 1,990 mm · March to December |
| 3% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 291 growing days · about 1,900 mm · March to December |
last updated 16 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 Obudu
| Planting material | About 55,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 44 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 9 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 48 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 Obudu 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.
Okra in nearby districts
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 Obudu?
Obudu rates as favourable for okra.
When should I plant okra in Obudu?
Typically 31 Mar 2026 to 23 Sep 2026, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Obudu, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
