leafy · direct sow · beginner friendly
Spinach: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating spinach a few times a week needs about 30 plants in ~8 sq ft, worth about $38 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 ~$5.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 8 | ~2 sq ft | ~15 | ~$10 |
| 2 people | 15 | ~4 sq ft | ~29 | ~$19 |
| 4 people | 30 | ~8 sq ft | ~57 | ~$38 |
| 6 people | 45 | ~12 sq ft | ~85 | ~$56 |
Spacing
3" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
42 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 | Mar 24 – May 5 | Jul 2 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | Jul 12 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 9 – Apr 20 | Jul 22 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 27 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sep 19 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 12 – Mar 26 | Aug 11 – Sep 29 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 1 – Mar 15 | Sep 1 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 9 | Dec 30 – Feb 10 | Sep 21 – Nov 9 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 10 – Jan 21 | Oct 1 – Nov 19 |
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
Leaves 3 to 6 inches, take outer leaves and let the center keep producing, or cut the whole rosette before a stalk forms.
Don't wait: The moment a center stalk starts stretching, harvest everything: bolted spinach is bitter within days.
Yield
About 0.25 bunchs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.25 lb). Re-sow every ~7 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Leaf miners · Aphids · Flea beetles · Cercospora leaf spot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with lettuce.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
23 kcal · 2.2 g fiber · 28.1 mg vitamin C · 558 mg potassium
When to plant spinach in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys spinachto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
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.
Spinach planting questions
How many spinach plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 8 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 30 plants, which takes around 8 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does spinach need?+
Space plants 3" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant spinach?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall 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 spinach worth it?+
At about $5.00/lb retail and ~0.25 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $38 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.