Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant spinach in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is spinach's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 3Direct sowSpring
Apr 17Succession sowing 2Spring
Aug 6Direct sowFall
Aug 20Succession sowing 2Fall
Sep 3Succession sowing 3Fall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Rich, nitrogen-heavy soil, pH 6.5–7.5 — spinach sulks in acidic beds.
Seedling care
Seed germinates poorly above 75°F soil. For late-summer sowing, pre-chill seed in the fridge for a week and sow in evening shade.
Growing notes
The hardiest green here. Rows 12 in apart.
Harvest
Take outer leaves from 6 weeks on. Under a low tunnel it overwinters and explodes with growth in February.