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When to Plant Spinach in Hansford 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.

Hansford County, Texas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 4,649 feet, Hansford County receives approximately 53.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Spinach during the growing season. 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. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Spinach root diseases.

Hansford County, TX (Zone 6b) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Hansford County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (88 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 8

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 Hansford County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.5) is more alkaline than Spinach prefers (6.5โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). 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 184-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 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€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 1.2" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 9.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 11.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Hansford 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 ~839 GDD — county provides 3,634 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Hansford County, TX

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 13 Mar 13 โ€“ Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors April 17 Apr 17 โ€“ May 1
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Harvest May 22 May 22 โ€“ Jul 24
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23

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 Natural rainfall sufficient

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

184 days in Hansford County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Hansford County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after April 17 in Hansford County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Hansford 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 Hansford County reach 93ยฐF โ€” grow Spinach as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 184.0-day season in Hansford 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 Hansford 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 Hansford County, TX?

Hansford County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hansford County, TX?

Hansford County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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