When to plant spinach in Texas

Planting dates

For standard spinach, Texas A&M says to plant as early as the soil can be worked in spring or in August and later for a fall crop. Both routes depend on cool conditions. High summer heat and long days can make standard spinach bolt, so a calendar label alone is not enough.

Your region

This source gives a seasonal rule rather than county-specific dates. Use it to decide whether your garden is entering a workable cool-season window, then ask your county Extension office for a local calendar if you need a precise planning range. Do not borrow a warm-season green’s date for standard spinach.

How to sow standard spinach

Direct-sow standard spinach one-half inch deep in rows 1½ to 2 feet apart, with seeds about 1 inch apart. Texas A&M suggests sowing another row every 10 to 14 days for a succession, provided the cool-season conditions remain suitable.

Thin and harvest

Thin standard spinach to 3 to 4 inches apart. The source describes harvest when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. In milder fall areas, clipping 1 to 2 inches above the crown can allow continued growth; observe the plants instead of promising a fixed second harvest.

Do not mix spinach types

This page owns standard spinach timing. Texas A&M describes Malabar and New Zealand spinach as heat-tolerant summer substitutes that do not tolerate cold and can be transplanted after the last frost. They are a different planting decision, not an earlier version of standard spinach.

Choose your next step

Planting questions