The growth of nominally undoped GaSb layers by atmospheric pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy on GaSb and GaAs substrates is studied. Trimethylgallium and trimethylantimony are used as precursors for the growth at 600 degrees C in a horizontal reactor. The effect of carrier gas flow, V/III-ratio, and trimethylgallium partial pressure on surface morphology, electrical properties and photoluminescence is investigated. The optimum values for the growth parameters are established. The carrier gas flow is shown to have a significant effect on the surface morphology. The optimum growth rate is found to be 3-8 mu m/h, which is higher than previously reported. The 2.5 mu m thick GaSb layers on GaAs are p-type, having at optimized growth conditions room-temperature hole mobility and hole concentration of 800 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and 3 . 10(16) cm(-3), respectively. The homoepitaxial GaSb layer grown with the same parameters has mirror-like surface and the photoluminescence spectrum is dominated by strong excitonic lines.