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When to Plant Spinach in Campbell County, WY

Campbell County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

Campbell County, Wyoming gardeners: here's your May plan

Here's what deserves your attention in Campbell County, Wyoming this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 5a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 20
Soil temp (4") 30°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Plant out spinach

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Plant spinach from seed, right in the garden

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

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: spinach
  • First harvests: spinach

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Spinach is a nutrient-packed cool-season green that grows quickly in spring and fall. It is rich in iron, vitamins, and antioxidants and excellent raw or cooked.

Campbell County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 8,132 feet, Campbell County receives approximately 22.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Spinach to ensure they mature before fall.

Campbell County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20

Campbell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 3 Transplant: Jun 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 13

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 Campbell County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.6) overlaps with Spinach's range (6.5–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). Annual compost additions will help Spinach.

How to Plant Spinach

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Spinach

4
successive plantings in your 123-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 12.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/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 Spinach

Spinach needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Spinach Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.7" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.4" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Campbell County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

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.

Spinach needs ~521 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Spinach Planting Timeline — Campbell County, WY

Spinach Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 – Aug 26
Fall Sowing July 12 Jul 12 – Jul 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

123 days in Campbell County

Growing Tips for Spinach in Campbell County

Direct sow Spinach outdoors after May 20 in Campbell County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Plant in partial shade for summer crops to delay bolting. Succession plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Spinach Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Wind Pollinated
How to Collect Let plants bolt. Harvest seed stalks when seeds turn tan.
Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Wind pollinated — isolate 1/2 mile for purity. Easy to let bolt in heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Spinach in Campbell County, WY?

Campbell County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Spinach planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Campbell County, WY?

Campbell County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 20.

🌱

Your Campbell County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Campbell County (Zone 5a). 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 Campbell County, WY. 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.