When to plant spinach in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s average last spring frost is May 1, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 10 — about 162 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Pennsylvania's growing season.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 22 – Apr 10. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Pennsylvania: Apr 8 · Apr 20 · May 2 · May 14 · May 26
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 Pennsylvania, 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 22 – Apr 10). 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 Pennsylvania.
- 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 May 3 – May 11). 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 Pennsylvania’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (this page) | May 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 11 – Mar 30 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 5 – Mar 24 |
| 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 Pennsylvania ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Pennsylvania?
Sow spinach in Pennsylvania between March 22 and April 10. That timing is set by Pennsylvania's average last spring frost of May 1; Pennsylvania spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Pennsylvania?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 12 and August 29, so the crop matures in cool weather before Pennsylvania's first frost around October 10.
When will spinach planted in Pennsylvania be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about May 3 to May 11, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Pennsylvania?
On average around May 1, with the first fall frost around October 10 - about 162 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.