How to grow spinach
Spinacia oleracea · Amaranthaceae · Vegetable
When to plant spinach: the short answer
Sow outdoors about 5 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 7 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F, fastest near 60°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Mar 21 – Apr 9, or sow Aug 7 – Aug 24 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Oct 2 – Oct 19 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 11 – Jan 30) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for spinach. See every zone.
Spinach is a cool-season vegetable in the Amaranthaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 37–45 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.
Grower’s note: Bolts fast in heat and long days - it is really a spring and fall crop. A late-fall sowing under row cover often overwinters for an early-spring cut.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 35–75°F — germination is quickest near 60°F. Germination takes a week or two (7–14 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 4″ along the row with roughly 12″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 9 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 6″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, spinach does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long spinach takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 37-45 days (5-6 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 7-14 days in soil around 60°F.
When to plant spinach
When to plant spinach by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 5 – Apr 24 | Jul 18 – Aug 4 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Mar 31 – Apr 19 | Jul 28 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Mar 21 – Apr 9 | Aug 7 – Aug 24 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 6 – Mar 25 | Aug 17 – Sep 3 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Feb 24 – Mar 15 | Aug 27 – Sep 13 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Feb 8 – Feb 27 | Sep 7 – Sep 24 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Jan 11 – Jan 30 | Oct 2 – Oct 19 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Dec 21 – Jan 9 | Oct 17 – Nov 3 |
Or browse spinach planting dates for every state as static pages.
Companions
strawberry, Radish, Pea, Cabbage, Kale
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: leaf miner, aphids, flea beetle.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew, white rust, damping off.
Same family (Amaranthaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant spinach?
Sow outdoors about 5 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 7 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does spinach take to grow?
About 37-45 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days, fastest in soil around 60°F.
How much sun does spinach need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does spinach need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant spinach?
Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow spinach in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.