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When to Plant Spinach in Clark County, NV

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.

Clark County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost is November 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 268 days.

At an elevation of 2,811 feet, Clark County receives approximately 9.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 111ยฐF, so Spinach may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Spinach will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Spinach successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Clark County, NV (Zone 9a) Long season
268 days
Last Spring Frost February 28
268 growing days
First Fall Frost November 23

Clark County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.3-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (175 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 14 Transplant: Feb 11 🍅 Harvest: Mar 18 – May 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (170 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Feb 28 🍅 Harvest: Apr 4 – Jun 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (156 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 12

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 Clark County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.3โ€“8.4) is more alkaline than Spinach prefers (6.5โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Clark County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Spinach will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Spinach.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Spinach.

How to Plant Spinach

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Spinach

9
successive plantings in your 268-day season

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

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 28.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.2″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,197 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3" 0.6" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Mar 3" 0.6" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Apr 3" 0.3" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 3" 0.2" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 0.3" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.5" 1.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3" 1.9" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3" 1.2" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 3" 0.9" 2.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 3" 0.5" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Nov in Clark County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,413 GDD — county provides 8,944 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline โ€” Clark County, NV

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 31 Jan 31 โ€“ Feb 14
Transplant Outdoors February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 14
Direct Sow February 7 Feb 7 โ€“ Feb 28
Harvest April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Jun 6
Fall Sowing September 28 Sep 28 โ€“ Oct 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6.5โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

268 days in Clark County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Clark County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after February 28 in Clark County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Clark County dries quickly โ€” mulch Spinach with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Clark County reach 111ยฐF โ€” grow Spinach as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 269.0-day season in Clark 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 Clark County

Slow-bolting spinach for warm springs โ€” best as fall crop here

Bloomsdale Long Standing Tyee Space

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Clark County, NV?

Clark County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 28. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clark County, NV?

Clark County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 28 and first fall frost is November 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Clark County gardeners in Zone 9a 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 Clark County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.