Spinach Planting Guide

April

spinach this month

spinach rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in April, wherever you're growing.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 35–50

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 6″

How to water spinach
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for spinach. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put spinach
South-facing beds are ideal for spinach. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant spinach. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact spinach timing →

Spinach is a nutrient-packed cool-season green that grows quickly in spring and fall. It is rich in iron, vitamins, and antioxidants and excellent raw or cooked.

Spinacia oleracea · Vegetable · Amaranthaceae family · 35–50 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Spinach Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Spinach?

Zone Compatibility for Spinach Zones 2a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 2a	Apr 18	May 23	May 30	Jul 4 – Sep 5
Zone 2b	Apr 10	May 15	May 22	Jun 26 – Aug 28
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jun 19 – Aug 21
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jun 14 – Aug 16
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jun 10 – Aug 12
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jun 5 – Aug 7
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	May 30 – Aug 1
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	May 23 – Jul 25
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	May 15 – Jul 17
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	May 8 – Jul 10
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	Apr 29 – Jul 1
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	Apr 22 – Jun 24
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	Apr 12 – Jun 14
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Apr 1 – Jun 3
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Mar 17 – May 19
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Mar 1 – May 3
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 5 – Apr 9
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Feb 5 – Apr 9

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Spinach is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Spinach

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6.5 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Amaranthaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaranthaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Spinach

Spinach matures in just 35–50 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 6 successive plantings by sowing every 4 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Spinach

✅ Good Companions

Strawberries Peas Radish Lettuce

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Spinach

Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Plant in partial shade for summer crops to delay bolting. Succession plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.

💧 Watering: Spinach needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Spinach Seeds

🌾 Save Your Own Spinach Seeds

Life Cycle Annual

Pollination Wind Pollinated

How to Collect Let plants bolt. Harvest seed stalks when seeds turn tan.

Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Wind pollinated — isolate 1/2 mile for purity. Easy to let bolt in heat.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Spinach by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Spinach?

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) takes 35 to 50 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Spinach grow in?

Spinach can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Spinach need?

Growing Spinach requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5.