When to plant spinach in Tennessee
Tennessee’s average last spring frost is April 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 198 frost-free days (USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Tennessee's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Tennessee: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 1 – Mar 20. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Tennessee: Mar 18 · Mar 30 · Apr 11 · Apr 23 · May 5
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 Tennessee, 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 1 – Mar 20). 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 Tennessee.
- 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 12 – Apr 20). 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 Tennessee’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach planting dates by USDA zone in Tennessee
Tennessee spans USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (this page) | April 10 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| North Carolina | April 5 | Feb 24 – Mar 15 |
| South Carolina | March 25 | Feb 13 – Mar 4 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Feb 13 – Mar 4 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 9 – Mar 28 |
Questions gardeners in Tennessee ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Tennessee?
Sow spinach in Tennessee between March 1 and March 20. That timing is set by Tennessee's average last spring frost of April 10.
Can I plant spinach in the fall in Tennessee?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 27 and September 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Tennessee's first frost around October 25.
When will spinach planted in Tennessee be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about April 12 to April 20, 37-45 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Tennessee?
On average around April 10, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 198 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.