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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Prowers County, CO

Prowers County, Colorado Zone 6a May

This month in Prowers County, Colorado

Welcome to May in Zone 6a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 30
Avg. first frost October 10
Soil temp (4") 44°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Plant out new zealand spinach

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Direct-sow new zealand spinach

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

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.

Prowers County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 163 days.

At an elevation of 6,074 feet, Prowers County receives approximately 24.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Prowers County, CO (Zone 6a) Moderate season
163 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
163 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Prowers County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Aug 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 Prowers County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–8.3) overlaps with New Zealand Spinach's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 163-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 01 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 633 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Prowers 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 ~1,000 GDD — county provides 2,608 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Prowers County, CO

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 – May 28
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Harvest July 9 Jul 9 – Aug 6

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

163 days in Prowers County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Prowers County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after April 30 in Prowers County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Prowers County receives only 25" of rain annually. New Zealand Spinach needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Prowers County, CO?

Prowers County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Prowers County, CO?

Prowers County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 10.

🌱

Your Prowers County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Prowers County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Prowers County, CO. 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.