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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Wasatch County, UT

Wasatch County, Utah Zone 6a May

Your May game plan for Wasatch County, Utah

Each item below is timed to Wasatch County, Utah's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 26
Soil temp (4") 35°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Seed new zealand spinach outdoors

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • Transplants going out: 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.

Wasatch County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 130 days.

At an elevation of 8,190 feet, Wasatch County receives approximately 16.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for New Zealand Spinach during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing New Zealand Spinach successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Wasatch County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
130 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
130 growing days
First Fall Frost September 26

Wasatch County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Aug 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 24 Transplant: Jul 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Sep 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 Wasatch County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.6) overlaps with New Zealand Spinach's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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

2
successive plantings in your 130-day season

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 644 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Wasatch 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 ~906 GDD — county provides 1,885 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Wasatch County, UT

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors June 2 Jun 2 – Jun 16
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 – Jun 16
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 – Aug 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

130 days in Wasatch County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Wasatch County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after May 19 in Wasatch County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Wasatch County receives only 17" 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 Wasatch County, UT?

Wasatch County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wasatch County, UT?

Wasatch County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 26.

🌱

Your Wasatch County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wasatch County (Zone 6a). 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 Wasatch County, UT. 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.