When to plant spinach in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant spinach in Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Jan 3 – Jan 22. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Florida: Jan 20 · Feb 1 · Feb 13 · Feb 25 · Mar 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 Florida, 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 (Jan 3 – Jan 22). 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 Florida.
- 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 Feb 14 – Feb 22). 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 3 – Jan 22 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 13 – Mar 4 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 8 – Feb 27 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Jan 24 – Feb 12 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Feb 22 – Mar 13 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Florida?
Sow spinach in Florida between January 3 and January 22. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Florida?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between October 12 and October 29, so the crop matures in cool weather before Florida's first frost around December 10.
When will spinach planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about February 14 to February 22, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.