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When to Plant Spinach in San Juan County, WA

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.

San Juan County, Washington is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 222 days.

At an elevation of 371 feet, San Juan County receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

San Juan County, WA (Zone 8a) Long season
222 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
222 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3

San Juan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jun 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 30 – Jul 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 1

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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,040 gal / 100 sq ft
Spinach needs ~489 GDD — county provides 2,553 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” San Juan County, WA

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 19 Feb 19 โ€“ Mar 5
Transplant Outdoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Direct Sow March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Apr 2
Fall Sowing August 25 Aug 25 โ€“ Sep 8
Harvest April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ Jul 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
May 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 8a

Growing Season

222 days

Growing Tips for San Juan 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 San Juan County, WA?

San Juan County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is San Juan County, WA?

San Juan County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help San Juan County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 San Juan County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.