Zone 3 · Leafy Greens Growing Guide

When to Plant Spinach
in Zone 3

One of the fastest crops to harvest. Cold-hardy and can be direct sown as soon as ground can be worked. Bolts in heat — time plantings for cool weather.

Plant outdoors
Apr 15 – May 15, Aug 1 – Aug 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~May 15
Days to harvest
37–45 days
Difficulty
Easy
Plant now — Zone 3
Harvest window: May – Jun, Sep – Oct

Planting Calendar

In Zone 3, Spinach should be planted outdoors Apr 15 – May 15, Aug 1 – Aug 15, after the average last frost date of approximately May 15.

Direct sow as soon as ground is workable. Fast-maturing — get two crops before heat causes bolting.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade · 3–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
4–6 inches
Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive, well-draining
Days to maturity
37–45 days
Soil pH
6.5–7.5
plant tip · Zone 3

Direct sow as soon as ground is workable. Fast-maturing — get two crops before heat causes bolting.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 3 weeks
Feed type
high nitrogen
Key timing
throughout growing season

Fast-growing, nitrogen-hungry crop. Liquid feed every 3 weeks keeps leaves large and dark green.

Succession Planting

Sow every 2 weeks

Sow every 2 weeks in spring until temperatures hit 75°F, then again in late summer for autumn crops. Spinach bolts in heat — succession extends your harvest window rather than having it end abruptly.

Companion Planting for Spinach

What you plant next to spinach makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Strawberries
  • Brassicas
  • Legumes
  • Radishes
Keep away from
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 3, direct sow spinach outdoors Apr 15 – May 15, Aug 1 – Aug 15 after your last frost date of approximately May 15. Direct sow as soon as ground is workable. Fast-maturing — get two crops before heat causes bolting.
Zone 3 has an average last spring frost of approximately May 15 and a first fall frost around Sep 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for spinach include Strawberries, Brassicas, Legumes, Radishes. Avoid planting near Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Spinach typically takes 37–45 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 3. Expected harvest window: May – Jun, Sep – Oct.

Free app · iOS February 2028

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Spinach in other zones
Crop Guides