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When to Plant Spinach in Lincoln County, NV

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.

Lincoln County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 180 days.

At an elevation of 5,852 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 11.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 95ยฐF, so Spinach may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Spinach will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Spinach successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lincoln County, NV (Zone 6b) Moderate season
180 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
180 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7-8.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 24

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.

Soil Compatibility in Lincoln County

How your county's soil matches Spinach's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.0โ€“8.8) is more alkaline than Spinach prefers (6.5โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lincoln County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Spinach will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Spinach.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Spinach.

How to Plant Spinach

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Spinach

6
successive plantings in your 180-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,234 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Spinach

Spinach needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Spinach Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 0.4" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 3" 0.3" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 0.4" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3" 2.4" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3" 1.7" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3" 1" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Lincoln County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Spinach Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Spinach needs ~903 GDD — county provides 3,825 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, NV

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 3
Direct Sow April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 26
Harvest May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jul 26
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Aug 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6.5โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

180 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Lincoln County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lincoln County dries quickly โ€” mulch Spinach with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Lincoln County reach 95ยฐF โ€” grow Spinach as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 180.0-day season in Lincoln County allows multiple plantings of Spinach. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

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.

Recommended Spinach Varieties for Lincoln County

Slow-bolting spinach for warm springs โ€” best as fall crop here

Bloomsdale Long Standing Tyee Space

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Lincoln County, NV?

Lincoln County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, NV?

Lincoln County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lincoln County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Lincoln County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.