Spinach planting calendar for USDA Zone 9a

Gainesville FL, Houston, New Orleans, southern GA coast. Average last spring frost February 25, first fall frost December 1 — a 279-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good
Cool-season crops bolt fast under Zone 9a heat. Prioritize the fall planting window and use shade cloth for any spring succession.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors
January 7 – January 28
Expected first harvest
February 28 – March 28
Fall planting window
September 29 – October 20
Fall harvest window
November 20 – December 18

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
4″
Row spacing
12″
Seed depth
0.5″
Soil temperature
40–70°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
45 days

Grower notes for Zone 9a

Germination stalls above 75°F. Direct-seed while soil is still cool for both spring and fall crops.

Plant near: strawberries, radish

Other leafy greens for Zone 9a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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