Spinach is an annual grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 42 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Once it comes in, a single planting keeps producing for about three weeks, so you harvest over time rather than all at once.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5.3-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
42
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What Spinach is
Spinach grows as an annual and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms green in spring. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Spinach
Spinach grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 42 days after planting. Spinach does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.3 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 700 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 40 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.3 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
35.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
42 days
Direct seed only; bolts in summer.
OSU-PNW; Cornell
GDD Required
700+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
40+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant spinach in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Spinach prefers pH 5.3 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Spinach is ready about 42 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — spinach isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Spinach isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Spinach thrives
On hardiness alone, spinach grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Spinach growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Spinach can grow in these states:
See if Spinach will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether spinach actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Spinach in my zone?
Spinach grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Spinach take to grow?
Spinach is ready to harvest about 42 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Spinach?
Most growers plant spinach after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 40-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Spinach need?
Spinach needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Spinach need?
Spinach prefers soil pH 5.3 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Spinach attract pollinators?
Spinach isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Spinach safe for pets?
Spinach is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.