When to plant spinach in Missouri
Missouri’s average last spring frost is April 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 18 — about 186 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Missouri's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Missouri: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 6 – Mar 25. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Missouri: Mar 23 · Apr 4 · Apr 16 · Apr 28 · May 10
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 Missouri, 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 6 – Mar 25). 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 Missouri.
- 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 17 – Apr 25). 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 Missouri’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Missouri
Missouri spans USDA zones 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
Questions gardeners in Missouri ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Missouri?
Sow spinach in Missouri between March 6 and March 25. That timing is set by Missouri's average last spring frost of April 15.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Missouri?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 20 and September 6, so the crop matures in cool weather before Missouri's first frost around October 18.
When will spinach planted in Missouri be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about April 17 to April 25, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Missouri?
On average around April 15, with the first fall frost around October 18 - about 186 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.