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When to Plant New Zealand Spinach in Kewaunee County, WI

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Zone 5b May

May to-do list for Kewaunee County, Wisconsin

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

Avg. last frost May 3
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Time to transplant new zealand spinach

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Scatter new zealand spinach into prepared beds

    Your soil is 56°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 161 days.

At an elevation of 950 feet, Kewaunee County receives approximately 39.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of New Zealand Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

Kewaunee County, WI (Zone 5b) Moderate season
161 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
161 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Kewaunee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Aug 26

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 Kewaunee County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–7.1) overlaps with New Zealand Spinach's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — 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

3
successive plantings in your 161-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Kewaunee 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 ~719 GDD — county provides 1,851 GDD Excellent fit

New Zealand Spinach Planting Timeline — Kewaunee County, WI

New Zealand Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

161 days in Kewaunee County

Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach in Kewaunee County

Direct sow New Zealand Spinach outdoors after May 03 in Kewaunee 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 Kewaunee County, WI?

Kewaunee County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your New Zealand Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kewaunee County, WI?

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 11.

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Your Kewaunee County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Kewaunee County (Zone 5b). 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 Kewaunee County, WI. 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.