When to plant spinach
Spinach timing, counted from your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Germinates poorly in warm soil (above about 75°F).
| Season | cool-season, hardy to frost |
|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | 6 weeks before to 3 weeks before the last frost |
| Fall sowing | 8 weeks before to 5 weeks before the first fall frost |
| Soil temperature to germinate | 35°F or warmer |
| Days to maturity | 40–50 days from seed |
| Spacing | 3–6 in apart, rows 12–18 in apart |
| Seed depth | 0.5 in |
Example dates
| Place | Dates |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX (78701) | Sow outdoors: Jan 27–Feb 17; Fall sowing: Sep 22–Oct 13 |
| Atlanta, GA (30303) | Sow outdoors: Feb 10–Mar 3; Fall sowing: Sep 13–Oct 4 |
| St. Louis, MO (63101) | Sow outdoors: Feb 18–Mar 11; Fall sowing: Sep 9–30 |
| Chicago, IL (60614) | Sow outdoors: Feb 27–Mar 20; Fall sowing: Sep 10–Oct 1 |
| Denver, CO (80202) | Sow outdoors: Mar 19–Apr 9; Fall sowing: Aug 17–Sep 7 |
| Seattle, WA (98101) | Sow outdoors: Jan 30–Feb 20; Fall sowing: Sep 22–Oct 13 |
Every ZIP page has its own dates. Find your ZIP.
Find vegetable seeds: Lowe's · The Home Depot · Amazon
Retailer links are plain search links. We don't earn anything from them today; if we join a retailer's affiliate program later, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Sources
- University of Missouri Extension: G6201: Vegetable Planting Calendar
- K-State Research and Extension: MF315: Vegetable Garden Planting Guide
- University of Maryland Extension: When to Plant Vegetables
- NC State Extension: Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
- UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS): SP 103/VH021: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Planning a Garden
Summarized in our own words from public extension publications.
All vegetables · Your ZIP's planting calendar
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.