Blog

When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Latimer County, OK

Latimer County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

This month in Latimer County, Oklahoma

Your Latimer County, Oklahoma garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 70°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for new zealand spinach

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

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Latimer County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 773 feet, Latimer County receives approximately 33.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Latimer County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Latimer 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 (116 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – 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 Latimer 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 Latimer County is excellent for New Zealand Spinach — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 209-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 22 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 725 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 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Latimer 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 3,500 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Latimer County, OK

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 – Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 – May 3
Harvest June 14 Jun 14 – Jul 12

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 · 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

209 days in Latimer County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Latimer County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after April 05 in Latimer 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 Latimer County, OK?

Latimer County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Latimer County, OK?

Latimer County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Latimer County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Latimer 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 Latimer 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.