California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant spinach in California.
Sow between Nov 23 to Jan 4 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 30 to Nov 18. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Spinach dates for a typical California season.
Direct sow
Nov 23 to Jan 4
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0.5" deep, 3" apart.
Fall round
Sep 30 to Nov 18
Counted back from the ~Dec 14 first frost.
Harvest
~42 days later
~0.25 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. 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 California: watch for
The pests that find spinach here.
With about 334 frost-free days, spinach spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which leaf miners can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
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: California gives spinach about 334 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 42 days to a first harvest. That fits about 42 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting spinach in California: questions
When should I plant spinach in California?+
In a typical California year, sow spinach between Nov 23 to Jan 4, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. There's also a fall window: Sep 30 to Nov 18. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. 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.