When to plant spinach by zone
Spinacia oleracea is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 6 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Spinach planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Oct 1 – Feb 15.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 17 – May 15 | Jul 2 – Jul 30 |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 17 – May 15 | Jul 2 – Jul 30 |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | Apr 9 – May 7 | Jul 7 – Aug 4 |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | Apr 8 – May 6 | Jul 9 – Aug 6 |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | Apr 23 – May 21 | Jul 12 – Aug 9 |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | Apr 12 – May 10 | Jul 24 – Aug 21 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | Aug 2 – Aug 30 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | Aug 9 – Sep 6 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Aug 8 – Sep 5 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | Mar 15 – Apr 12 | Aug 26 – Sep 23 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 8 | Aug 26 – Sep 23 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Feb 27 – Mar 27 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 18 | Sep 8 – Oct 6 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 8 | Sep 15 – Oct 13 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Jan 28 – Feb 25 | Sep 24 – Oct 22 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Jan 1 – Jan 29 | Oct 8 – Nov 5 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 12 | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Dec 16 – Jan 13 | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| 11a | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Oct 1 – Feb 15 | |||
Growing tips
- Spinach bolts quickly as days lengthen — spring sowings must be early.
- Fall-sown spinach often overwinters under a light cover in zones 6–7.
- Germination is poor above 75°F soil temperature.
Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets
Spinach planting questions
When can I plant spinach outside?
Sow seed directly from 6 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last frost, once the soil reaches about 40°F (4.4°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 23 – Apr 20; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 15 – Apr 12; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 18 – Mar 18.
Can I grow spinach as a fall crop?
Yes. Sow or plant 4–8 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Aug 20 – Sep 17. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.
How long does spinach take to grow?
40–50 days from sowing. As a hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.
What soil temperature does spinach need?
At least 40°F (4.4°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows germination more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a hardy crop, spinach tolerates light frost.
How far apart should I plant spinach?
Recommended in-row spacing: 3–6 in. Spinach bolts quickly as days lengthen — spring sowings must be early.
When do you plant spinach where frost is rare?
In frost-free climates, plant spinach Oct 1 – Feb 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.