Alabama · zones 7b–9a
When to plant spinach in Alabama.
Sow between Feb 1 to Mar 15 in a typical year, keyed to Alabama's median last frost around Mar 25. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 25 to Oct 13. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Spinach dates for a typical Alabama season.
Direct sow
Feb 1 to Mar 15
Keyed to the ~Mar 25 last frost. Sow 0.5" deep, 3" apart.
Fall round
Aug 25 to Oct 13
Counted back from the ~Nov 8 first frost.
Harvest
~42 days later
~0.25 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Alabama spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 9a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Alabama: watch for
The pests that find spinach here.
A middle-length season, about 228 frost-free days, means spinach overlaps leaf miners for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
Winding pale tunnels or blotches inside the leaves.
Organic fix: Pick and destroy mined leaves; cover the row.
Cercospora leaf spot
Round spots with gray centers and a red-purple rim, oldest leaves worst.
Organic fix: Space wider so leaves dry fast, clear old debris, and pull pigweed and lambsquarters nearby.
Your season math: Alabama gives spinach about 228 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 42 days to a first harvest. That fits about 27 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting spinach in Alabama: questions
When should I plant spinach in Alabama?+
In a typical Alabama year, sow spinach between Feb 1 to Mar 15, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 25. There's also a fall window: Aug 25 to Oct 13. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Alabama?+
Alabama spans zones 7b–9a, mostly zone 8. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many spinach plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.