Blog

When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Coal County, OK

Coal County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

May to-do list for Coal County, Oklahoma

A quick May briefing for Coal County, Oklahoma gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 2
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Start new zealand spinach indoors

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: new zealand spinach

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Coal County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 219 days.

At an elevation of 892 feet, Coal County receives approximately 28.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Coal County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
219 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
219 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Coal County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 23

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 Coal County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within New Zealand Spinach's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) — 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 219-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,061 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Coal 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 ~1,047 GDD — county provides 3,668 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Coal County, OK

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 7 Feb 7 – Feb 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 – Apr 25
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 – Jul 4

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

219 days in Coal County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Coal County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after March 28 in Coal 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 Coal County, OK?

Coal County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Coal County, OK?

Coal County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 2.

🌱

Your Coal County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Coal 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.

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 Coal 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.