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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Lincoln County, AR

Lincoln County, Arkansas Zone 8b May

May in Lincoln County, Arkansas — your action list

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Lincoln County, Arkansas.

Avg. last frost March 19
Avg. first frost November 9
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: new zealand spinach

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Pick new zealand spinach

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • First harvests: 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.

Lincoln County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 235 days.

At an elevation of 535 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Lincoln County, AR (Zone 8b) Long season
235 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
235 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (138 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 20 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jun 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (135 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 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.

Soil Compatibility in Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–7.1) overlaps with New Zealand Spinach's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help New Zealand Spinach.

How to Plant New Zealand Spinach

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

Succession Planting New Zealand Spinach

5
successive plantings in your 235-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 31 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 249 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 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Lincoln County). 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 ~1,281 GDD — county provides 4,817 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, AR

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 29 Jan 29 – Feb 12
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest May 28 May 28 – Jun 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

235 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Lincoln County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after March 19 in Lincoln County 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 Lincoln County, AR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, AR?

Lincoln County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 9.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 8b). 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 Lincoln County, AR. 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.