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When to plant spinach in zone 4b

In zone 4b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 8, start spinach indoors March 27 to April 3 and plant out May 1 to 15. For a fall crop, plant July 23 to August 27.

The zone 4b schedule for spinach

Start seeds indoors
March 27 to April 3
Plant out
May 1 to 15
Sow outdoors
April 10 to 24
Plant for a fall crop
July 23 to August 27

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,164 ZIP codes in zone 4b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for spinach.

Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Frost risk in zone 4b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 4b, the typical last frost ranges from about May 1 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 22 to October 8. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 26Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 8Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 22Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Your dates for spinach

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant spinach where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Spinach in zone 4b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Rochester, MNApr 30Mar 19 to 26Apr 23 to May 7
Duluth, MNMay 6Mar 25 to Apr 1Apr 29 to May 13
Lakeville, MNMay 2Mar 21 to 28Apr 25 to May 9
St. Cloud, MNMay 7Mar 26 to Apr 2Apr 30 to May 14
Eau Claire, WIMay 8Mar 27 to Apr 3May 1 to 15
Great Falls, MTMay 19Apr 7 to 14May 12 to 26

How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 4aSpinach in zone 5aAbout zone 4b

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