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When to Plant Spinach in Nance County, NE

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.

Nance County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 164 days.

At an elevation of 797 feet, Nance County receives approximately 23.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

Nance County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
164 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
164 growing days
First Fall Frost October 8

Nance County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Aug 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 20

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 679 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Spinach needs ~521 GDD — county provides 2,009 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Nance County, NE

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 11
Direct Sow April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ May 4
Fall Sowing July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Aug 13
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 โ€“ Aug 3

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

Soil pH

6.5 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 5a

Growing Season

164 days

Growing Tips for Nance County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ 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 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Spinach in Nance County, NE?

Nance County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Nance County, NE?

Nance County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 8.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Nance County gardeners in Zone 5a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Nance County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.