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When to Plant Spinach in Jefferson County, OH

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.

Jefferson County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 189 days.

At an elevation of 1,017 feet, Jefferson County receives approximately 39.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Spinach during the growing season.

Jefferson County, OH (Zone 6a) Moderate season
189 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
189 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Jefferson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 15

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
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 695 gal / 100 sq ft
Spinach needs ~616 GDD — county provides 2,740 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Jefferson County, OH

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 โ€“ Sep 3
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jul 30

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 Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
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 6a

Growing Season

189 days

Growing Tips for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, OH?

Jefferson County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jefferson County, OH?

Jefferson County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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