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When to Plant Spinach in Goliad County, TX

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.

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 24 and the first fall frost is December 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 283 days.

At an elevation of 3,928 feet, Goliad County receives approximately 62.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 95ยฐF, so Spinach may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Spinach root diseases.

Goliad County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
283 days
Last Spring Frost February 24
283 growing days
First Fall Frost December 4

Goliad County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (186 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 15 Transplant: Feb 12 🍅 Harvest: Mar 19 – May 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (185 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 27 Transplant: Feb 24 🍅 Harvest: Mar 31 – Jun 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (185 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: Apr 17 – Jun 19

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 Goliad County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.3) overlaps with Spinach's range (6.5โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Spinach.

How to Plant Spinach

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Spinach

9
successive plantings in your 283-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 15 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3" 2.2" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 3" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 10.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 8.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 2.1" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec 3" 1.6" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Goliad 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 6,035 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Goliad County, TX

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 27 Jan 27 โ€“ Feb 10
Transplant Outdoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Direct Sow February 3 Feb 3 โ€“ Feb 24
Harvest March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Jun 2
Fall Sowing October 9 Oct 9 โ€“ Oct 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

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 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

283 days in Goliad County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Goliad County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after February 24 in Goliad County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your generous 284.0-day season in Goliad 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 Goliad 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 Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 24. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 24 and first fall frost is December 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Goliad County gardeners in Zone 9a 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 Goliad County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.