When to plant spinach in zone 9b
In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, start spinach indoors December 20 to 27 and plant out January 24 to February 7. For a fall crop, plant September 30 to November 4.
The zone 9b schedule for spinach
- Start seeds indoors
- December 20 to 27
- Plant out
- January 24 to February 7
- Sow outdoors
- January 3 to 17
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 30 to November 4
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,459 ZIP codes in zone 9b, 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 9b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9b, the typical last frost ranges from about January 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 1 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from January 8 to December 28. For a typical place in the zone:
- December 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- January 31Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- March 1Safe: 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 9b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Jan 30 | Dec 19 to 26 | Jan 23 to Feb 6 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Feb 1 | Dec 21 to 28 | Jan 25 to Feb 8 |
| San Jose, CA | Jan 12 | Dec 1 to 8 | Jan 5 to 19 |
| Fresno, CA | Jan 14 | Dec 3 to 10 | Jan 7 to 21 |
| Sacramento, CA | Jan 12 | Dec 1 to 8 | Jan 5 to 19 |
| Bakersfield, CA | Jan 17 | Dec 6 to 13 | Jan 10 to 24 |
| New Orleans, LA | Jan 24 | Dec 13 to 20 | Jan 17 to 31 |
| Henderson, NV | Jan 20 | Dec 9 to 16 | Jan 13 to 27 |
How to grow spinachAll zonesSpinach in zone 9aAbout zone 9b
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)