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When to Plant Spinach in Anderson County, KS

Anderson County, Kansas Zone 6b May

This month in Anderson County, Kansas

Each item below is timed to Anderson County, Kansas's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for spinach

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. Bring in the spinach

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: spinach

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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.

Anderson County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 466 feet, Anderson County receives approximately 23.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Spinach during the growing season.

Anderson County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Anderson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 29

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 Anderson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.4) is within Spinach's preferred range (6.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) — Spinach will thrive.

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 196-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 420 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 2.3" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.9" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 2.2" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Anderson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — 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.

Spinach needs ~616 GDD — county provides 2,842 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline — Anderson County, KS

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 – Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 18
Harvest May 16 May 16 – Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

196 days in Anderson County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Anderson County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after April 11 in Anderson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 196.0-day season in Anderson 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 Anderson County

Slow-bolting spinach for warm springs — best as fall crop here

Bloomsdale Long Standing Tyee Space

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Wind pollinated — isolate 1/2 mile for purity. Easy to let bolt in heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Spinach in Anderson County, KS?

Anderson County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Anderson County, KS?

Anderson County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Anderson County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Anderson County (Zone 6b). 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 Anderson County, KS. 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.