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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Juneau City and Borough, AK

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Zone 7a May

This month in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska

May is a pivotal month for Juneau City and Borough, Alaska gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 3
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 16.5 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant new zealand spinach

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

  2. Seed new zealand spinach outdoors

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: new zealand spinach

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New Zealand spinach is a heat-tolerant ground-cover plant with thick, triangular leaves that taste similar to true spinach. It thrives in hot weather when regular spinach bolts.

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 152 days.

At an elevation of 930 feet, Juneau City and Borough receives approximately 35.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 57°F, so choose short-season varieties of New Zealand Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

Juneau City and Borough, AK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
152 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
152 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2
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Juneau City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Aug 23

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 Juneau City and Borough

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.5) is more acidic than New Zealand Spinach prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Juneau City and Borough is excellent for New Zealand Spinach — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (6.7%) — New Zealand Spinach will thrive.

How to Plant New Zealand Spinach

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

Succession Planting New Zealand Spinach

3
successive plantings in your 152-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 24 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 15 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for New Zealand Spinach

New Zealand Spinach needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month New Zealand Spinach Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Juneau City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

New Zealand 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

New Zealand Spinach needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Juneau City and Borough, AK

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

152 days in Juneau City and Borough

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Juneau City and Borough

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after May 03 in Juneau City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Soak seeds overnight before planting. Direct sow after last frost. Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage bushy growth and tender new leaves.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant New Zealand Spinach in Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 2.

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Your Juneau City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Juneau City and Borough (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Juneau City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.