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When to plant spinach in zone 8a

In zone 8a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 29, start spinach indoors February 15 to 22 and plant out March 22 to April 5. For a fall crop, plant August 29 to October 3.

The zone 8a schedule for spinach

Start seeds indoors
February 15 to 22
Plant out
March 22 to April 5
Sow outdoors
March 1 to 15
Plant for a fall crop
August 29 to October 3

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,584 ZIP codes in zone 8a, 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 8a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8a, the typical last frost ranges from about March 18 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 7 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 31 to November 16. For a typical place in the zone:

  • March 9Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 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.

Enter your ZIP code

Spinach in zone 8a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Charlotte, NCMar 30Feb 16 to 23Mar 23 to Apr 6
Memphis, TNMar 16Feb 2 to 9Mar 9 to 23
Baltimore, MDMar 24Feb 10 to 17Mar 17 to 31
Atlanta, GAMar 15Feb 1 to 8Mar 8 to 22
Raleigh, NCMar 28Feb 14 to 21Mar 21 to Apr 4
Greensboro, NCMar 30Feb 16 to 23Mar 23 to Apr 6
Durham, NCMar 31Feb 17 to 24Mar 24 to Apr 7
Winston-Salem, NCMar 30Feb 16 to 23Mar 23 to Apr 6
Chesapeake, VAMar 17Feb 3 to 10Mar 10 to 24
Huntsville, ALMar 24Feb 10 to 17Mar 17 to 31
Fayetteville, NCMar 30Feb 16 to 23Mar 23 to Apr 6
Little Rock, ARMar 21Feb 7 to 14Mar 14 to 28

How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 7bSpinach in zone 8bAbout zone 8a

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