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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Adair County, OK

Adair County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

Your May gardening checklist

May is a pivotal month for Adair County, Oklahoma gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 7
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start new zealand spinach indoors

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

Get ahead of June
  • 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.

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 486 feet, Adair County receives approximately 33.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Adair County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Adair County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 1

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 Adair County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.1) is within New Zealand Spinach's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — 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

4
successive plantings in your 203-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 540 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 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Adair 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 ~1,234 GDD — county provides 4,009 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Adair County, OK

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 – Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 – May 5
Direct Sow April 14 Apr 14 – May 5
Harvest June 16 Jun 16 – Jul 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

203 days in Adair County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Adair County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after April 07 in Adair 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 Adair County, OK?

Adair County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adair County, OK?

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Adair County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Adair County (Zone 7b). 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 Adair County, OK. 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.