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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Pushmataha County, OK

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma Zone 8a May

May in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma — your action list

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

Avg. last frost April 2
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Moderate
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.

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  • 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.

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 465 feet, Pushmataha County receives approximately 22.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season.

Pushmataha County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1
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Pushmataha County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jun 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Jul 25

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 Pushmataha County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.8) overlaps with New Zealand Spinach's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). 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 213-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,284 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 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Pushmataha 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 ~1,094 GDD — county provides 3,727 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Pushmataha County, OK

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 30
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 – Jul 9

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
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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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

213 days in Pushmataha County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Pushmataha County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after April 02 in Pushmataha County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Pushmataha County receives only 22" of rain annually. New Zealand Spinach needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Pushmataha County, OK?

Pushmataha County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pushmataha County, OK?

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 1.

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Your Pushmataha County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pushmataha County (Zone 8a). 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 Pushmataha 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.