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When to Plant Spinach in LaMoure 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.

LaMoure County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 141 days.

At an elevation of 999 feet, LaMoure County receives approximately 21.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

LaMoure County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
141 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
141 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

LaMoure County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 25

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 LaMoure County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.6) overlaps with Spinach's range (6.5โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in LaMoure County is excellent for Spinach โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Spinach.

How to Plant Spinach

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Spinach

4
successive plantings in your 141-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 10 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 72 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 2.8" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3" 2.4" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3" 1.9" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in LaMoure 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 ~552 GDD — county provides 1,833 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” LaMoure County, ND

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 13
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 โ€“ May 25
Direct Sow May 4 May 4 โ€“ May 25
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 โ€“ Aug 17
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Jul 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 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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6.5โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

141 days in LaMoure County

Growing Tips for Spinach in LaMoure County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after May 11 in LaMoure County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 141.0-day season in LaMoure 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.

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 LaMoure County, ND?

LaMoure County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is LaMoure County, ND?

LaMoure County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help LaMoure 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 LaMoure County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.