Planting timing · Cool-season
When to plant spinach
Plant spinach in early spring or fall on the cited sheets — not on a national calendar month. Regional dates stay source-specific.
Growing guidance is general information. Timing, spacing, and care depend on cultivar, weather, soil, and local conditions. Check the sources and adjust the plan for your garden.
Spacing lives on the spinach hub. Timing stays on the cited sheets.
Types and spacing live on growing spinach.
What the sources say — at a glance
One source per card. Facts are not averaged.
Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina)
Early spring or fall. Germination 70 °F; above 85 °F inhibits. Piedmont Mar 15–Apr 15 and Aug 1–Sept 30; Coastal Feb 1–Apr 1 and Aug 15–Oct 15.
Details and limits (4)
Timing
Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): spinach is a hardy, cool-season crop that can be planted in early spring or fall throughout South Carolina. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.
Timing
Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): the optimum soil temperature for spinach seed germination is 70 °F. Soil temperature above 85 °F will inhibit seed germination. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.
Regions
Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): spinach planting dates on their sheet — Piedmont March 15 to April 15 and August 1 to September 30; Coastal February 1 to April 1 and August 15 to October 15. South Carolina regions — not a national plant date.
Limit
South Carolina HGIC 1320. The regional table stays on this sheet. Not a ZIP calendar.
Maryland Extension (Maryland)
Early spring after soil 45 °F. DTM 28–55 from seed. Fall garden. Late-fall sow may overwinter in mild areas.
Details and limits (3)
Timing
Maryland Extension (Maryland): sow seed early in the spring after soil temperatures have reached 45 °F. Days to maturity 28 to 55 from seed. Maryland timing — not a national plant date.
Timing
Maryland Extension (Maryland): spinach tolerates frost so it is a good crop for the fall garden. In mild areas, spinach sown in late fall will overwinter and make new growth in the spring. Maryland timing — not a national plant date.
Limit
Maryland spinach garden page. Early-spring 45 °F and fall-garden notes stay Maryland. Not a ZIP calendar.
UMN Extension (Minnesota)
As soon as workable in spring. Fall: two months before the average first frost date. Minnesota timing — not a national plant date.
Details and limits (2)
Timing
UMN Extension (Minnesota): to direct seed spinach for a summer crop, sow seeds as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. For a fall crop, sow seed two months before the average first frost date. Minnesota timing — not a national plant date.
Limit
Minnesota spinach sheet. Workable-spring and two-months-before-frost timing stay Minnesota. Not a ZIP calendar.
Illinois Extension (Illinois)
As soon as the soil is prepared in spring. Late winter broadcast over frozen ground if the bed was prepared in fall. Illinois timing — not a national plant date.
Details and limits (2)
Timing
Illinois Extension (Illinois): the first planting can be made as soon as the soil is prepared in the spring. If the soil was prepared in the fall, seeds can be broadcast over frozen ground or snow cover in late winter and they will germinate as the soil thaws. Illinois timing — not a national plant date.
Limit
Illinois spinach page. Spring-prepared and late-winter broadcast timing stay Illinois. Not a ZIP calendar.
Sources differ
Make it yours
Save the bed in the Field Book so next season is not a guess.
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When a partner is listed, it will be outbound and disclosed. Nothing to buy here. Fertilizer, soils, and pesticides stay off this slot.
When do you plant spinach?
Compare timing on the cited sheets. Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): early spring or fall; Piedmont March 15 to April 15 and August 1 to September 30; Coastal February 1 to April 1 and August 15 to October 15. Maryland: early spring after soil 45 °F. Minnesota: as soon as workable in spring. Illinois: as soon as the soil is prepared in spring.
Do the sheets agree on fall planting?
No. Clemson’s table lists August through September (Piedmont) and August through October (Coastal). Maryland names a fall garden and late-fall sow in mild areas. Minnesota: two months before the average first frost date. Illinois names late-winter broadcast over frozen ground if the bed was prepared in fall, not a fall sowing window on this card. Four cards — not averaged.
What to record in the Field Book
Save the bed with the crop and the date. You may add a photo and notes. Compare entries you have recorded with each other — not with a diagnosis from this page. If you want an identification, bring the record to local Extension.
How we know — methodology. Ranges and assertions are cited per source, not blended.