When to plant Spinach
One of the most cold-hardy greens — it germinates in chilly soil and shrugs off frost. A classic spring and fall crop that bolts quickly once days lengthen and warm. Fall sowings can overwinter under cover in mild zones.
Companions: Strawberry, radish, peas, brassicas
How to grow Spinach
Spinach is best direct-sown straight into the garden, as it dislikes being transplanted. Give it full sun to part shade and space plants about 4 inches apart. It takes roughly 40 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. It also supports a fall sowing for a second harvest. Classic companions include strawberry, radish, peas, brassicas.
Grower's tip: Very cold-hardy; sow as soon as soil can be worked, and again in fall. Bolts in heat.
When to plant Spinach by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same spinach goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Direct sow outdoors May 4–Jun 1 Direct sow outdoors Jun 20–Jul 11 |
| Zone 1b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 29–May 27 Direct sow outdoors Jun 25–Jul 16 |
| Zone 2a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 22 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 21 |
| Zone 2b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 16 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Jul 28 |
| Zone 3a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 13–May 11 Direct sow outdoors Jul 14–Aug 4 |
| Zone 3b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–May 6 Direct sow outdoors Jul 18–Aug 8 |
| Zone 4a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 3–May 1 Direct sow outdoors Jul 24–Aug 14 |
| Zone 4b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 26 Direct sow outdoors Jul 28–Aug 18 |
| Zone 5a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Aug 27 |
| Zone 5b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 16 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Aug 31 |
| Zone 6a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 12 |
| Zone 6b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 20 |
| Zone 7a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 24 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 28 |
| Zone 7b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 18 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 6 |
| Zone 8a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 14 |
| Zone 8b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 21 |
| Zone 9a | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 31 |
| Zone 9b | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Feb 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 10 |
| Zone 10a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 17 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 23 |
| Zone 10b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 11a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 11b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 12a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 12b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 13a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Zone 13b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |