When to plant spinach in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, start spinach indoors March 12 to 19 and plant out April 16 to 30. For a fall crop, plant August 13 to September 17.
The zone 6b schedule for spinach
- Start seeds indoors
- March 12 to 19
- Plant out
- April 16 to 30
- Sow outdoors
- March 26 to April 9
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 13 to September 17
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, 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 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Mar 10 to 17 | Apr 14 to 28 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 9 to 23 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Mar 9 to 16 | Apr 13 to 27 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 |
How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 6aSpinach in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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)