When to plant spinach in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s average last spring frost is April 24, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 14 — about 173 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Massachusetts's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Massachusetts: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 15 – Apr 3. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Massachusetts: Apr 1 · Apr 13 · Apr 25 · May 7 · May 19
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 Massachusetts, 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 15 – Apr 3). 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 Massachusetts.
- 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 26 – May 4). 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 Massachusetts’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this page) | April 24 | Mar 15 – Apr 3 |
| Maine | May 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 23 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 22 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 23 |
| Rhode Island | April 25 | Mar 16 – Apr 4 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Mar 16 – Apr 4 |
| New York | May 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
Questions gardeners in Massachusetts ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Massachusetts?
Sow spinach in Massachusetts between March 15 and April 3. That timing is set by Massachusetts's average last spring frost of April 24.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Massachusetts?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 16 and September 2, so the crop matures in cool weather before Massachusetts's first frost around October 14.
When will spinach planted in Massachusetts be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about April 26 to May 4, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Massachusetts?
On average around April 24, with the first fall frost around October 14 - about 173 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.