When to plant spinach in Delaware
Delaware’s average last spring frost is April 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 22 — about 191 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Delaware's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Delaware: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 5 – Mar 24. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Delaware: Mar 22 · Apr 3 · Apr 15 · Apr 27 · May 9
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 Delaware, 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 (Mar 5 – Mar 24). 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 Delaware.
- 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 16 – Apr 24). 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 Delaware’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
When to plant spinach in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware (this page) | April 14 | Mar 5 – Mar 24 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 11 – Mar 30 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 5 – Mar 24 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 6 – Mar 25 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 14 |
Questions gardeners in Delaware ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Delaware?
Sow spinach in Delaware between March 5 and March 24. That timing is set by Delaware's average last spring frost of April 14.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Delaware?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 24 and September 10, so the crop matures in cool weather before Delaware's first frost around October 22.
When will spinach planted in Delaware be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about April 16 to April 24, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Delaware?
On average around April 14, with the first fall frost around October 22 - about 191 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.