Missouri · zones 5b–7a
When to plant spinach in Missouri.
Sow between Feb 22 to Apr 5 in a typical year, keyed to Missouri's median last frost around Apr 15. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 6 to Sep 24. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Spinach dates for a typical Missouri season.
Direct sow
Feb 22 to Apr 5
Keyed to the ~Apr 15 last frost. Sow 0.5" deep, 3" apart.
Fall round
Aug 6 to Sep 24
Counted back from the ~Oct 20 first frost.
Harvest
~42 days later
~0.25 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Missouri spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 7a. 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 Missouri: watch for
The pests that find spinach here.
A middle-length season, about 188 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: Missouri gives spinach about 188 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 42 days to a first harvest. That fits about 21 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting spinach in Missouri: questions
When should I plant spinach in Missouri?+
In a typical Missouri year, sow spinach between Feb 22 to Apr 5, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 15. There's also a fall window: Aug 6 to Sep 24. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Missouri?+
Missouri spans zones 5b–7a, mostly zone 6. 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.