When to plant spinach in zone 5b
In zone 5b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 1, start spinach indoors March 20 to 27 and plant out April 24 to May 8. For a fall crop, plant August 1 to September 5.
The zone 5b schedule for spinach
- Start seeds indoors
- March 20 to 27
- Plant out
- April 24 to May 8
- Sow outdoors
- April 3 to 17
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 1 to September 5
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,546 ZIP codes in zone 5b, 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 5b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 21 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 18 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 30 to October 19. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 16Safe: 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.
Spinach in zone 5b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 |
| Aurora, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 |
| Fort Collins, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 |
| Naperville, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 |
| Rockford, IL | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Elgin, IL | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 |
| Greeley, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 |
| Davenport, IA | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 |
| Longmont, CO | May 6 | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 13 |
How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 5aSpinach in zone 6aAbout zone 5b
Sources
- How to Grow Spinach in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Spinach, Spinacia oleracea · University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture)
- Spinach | Home Vegetable Gardening · University of Illinois Extension
- Growing Spinach in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · UF/IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Backyard Gardener #173: Growing Spinach · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County
- RGV Homeowner Vegetable Guide · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Fall Vegetable Gardening Guide for Texas · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- When Is the Right Time to Plant Vegetable Seeds? Check Soil Temperature · University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture)