leafy · direct sow
New Zealand Spinach: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating new zealand spinach a few times a week needs about 12 plants in ~53 sq ft, worth about $230 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~14 sq ft | ~7 | ~$58 |
| 2 people | 6 | ~27 sq ft | ~14 | ~$115 |
| 4 people | 12 | ~53 sq ft | ~28 | ~$230 |
| 6 people | 18 | ~79 sq ft | ~42 | ~$346 |
Spacing
21" in row · 30" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
60 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 – May 29 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 10 – May 24 | — |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Snip the last 3 to 4 inches of branch tips, tender tips are the crop, and cutting makes more.
Yield
About 4.8 lbs per plant over ~12 productive weeks (~4.8 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Leaf miners · Aphids · Flea beetles, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with tomato, pepper, basil, okra.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
14 kcal · 1.5 g fiber · 30 mg vitamin C · 130 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
New Zealand Spinach planting questions
How many new zealand spinach plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 12 plants, which takes around 53 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does new zealand spinach need?+
Space plants 21" apart in the row with 30" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant new zealand spinach?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing new zealand spinach worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~4.8 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $230 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.