When to plant spinach in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 22 – Mar 13. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Arkansas: Mar 11 · Mar 23 · Apr 4 · Apr 16 · Apr 28
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow spinach in Arkansas, step by step
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Feb 22 – Mar 13). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed ½ inch deep. It tolerates hard frost, so it is one of the first crops to plant. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Arkansas.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, aphids, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: downy mildew, white rust, damping off.
- Harvest (from about Apr 5 – Apr 13). Spinach takes 37-45 days to reach harvest. 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.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the spinach dates shift with them.
When to plant spinach in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Feb 22 – Mar 13 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 13 – Mar 4 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 8 – Feb 27 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Jan 24 – Feb 12 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 3 – Jan 22 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Arkansas?
Sow spinach in Arkansas between February 22 and March 13. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Arkansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 3 and September 20, so the crop matures in cool weather before Arkansas's first frost around November 1.
When will spinach planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about April 5 to April 13, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.