When to plant spinach in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, start spinach indoors March 18 to 25 and plant out April 22 to May 6. For a fall crop, plant August 8 to September 12.
The zone 6a schedule for spinach
- Start seeds indoors
- March 18 to 25
- Plant out
- April 22 to May 6
- Sow outdoors
- April 1 to 15
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 8 to September 12
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, 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 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Mar 24 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 12 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 |
How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 5bSpinach in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
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)