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When to Plant Spinach in Kidder County, ND

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.

Kidder County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 654 feet, Kidder County receives approximately 28.2 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.

Kidder County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Kidder County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 30

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 198 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 1,678 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Kidder County, ND

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 โ€“ May 28
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 28
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 โ€“ Jul 20
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Aug 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August 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 4a

Growing Season

137 days

Growing Tips for Kidder 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 Kidder County, ND?

Kidder County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kidder County, ND?

Kidder County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kidder County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Kidder County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.