Cool-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Spinach in Louisiana

Fast from seed to salad. Spinach bolts in heat, so plant early in spring and again in fall.

The Short Answer

Spinach are cold-tolerant and do well in Louisiana's humid climate. You can direct sow 6 weeks before your last frost — that's as early as Mar 1 - Mar 15 in Northern Louisiana. Louisiana gardeners can also plant a fall crop. Rich alluvial soils in river valleys. Heavy clay in many areas. Acidic throughout. Sandy in some...

Louisiana Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Louisiana you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region	Zones	Last Frost (Spring)	First Frost (Fall)
Northern Louisiana	8a, 8b	Mar 1 - Mar 15	Nov 10 - Nov 25
Southern Louisiana	9a, 9b	Feb 1 - Feb 20	Dec 1 - Dec 20

Spinach Planting Schedule for Louisiana

Northern Louisiana (Zones 8a, 8b)

Average last frost: Mar 1 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Nov 25

Direct Sow

6 wks before frost

Fall Planting

6 wks before first frost

Southern Louisiana (Zones 9a, 9b)

Average last frost: Feb 1 - Feb 20 · Average first frost: Dec 1 - Dec 20

Direct Sow

6 wks before frost

Fall Planting

6 wks before first frost

Growing Spinach in Louisiana

Spinach in Louisiana's Climate

Spinach is strictly cool-season in your warm climate. Sow from September through February. Your mild winter temperatures produce fast-growing, tender spinach without any frost protection needed. The season is short but productive. For warm-weather spinach alternatives, grow Malabar spinach — it's not true spinach but handles heat that real spinach cannot.

Soil Considerations for Louisiana

Rich alluvial soils in river valleys. Heavy clay in many areas. Acidic throughout. Sandy in some coastal areas.

Louisiana Climate & Growing Season

Subtropical. Long growing season. Very hot and humid summers — some crops need shade. Year-round gardening possible. Spinach can handle frost well, which is an advantage in Louisiana's climate. You can push planting dates earlier in spring and extend into fall.

Growing season length varies across Louisiana: Northern Louisiana (8a, 8b) has a last frost around Mar 1 - Mar 15, while Southern Louisiana (9a, 9b) sees frost end around Feb 1 - Feb 20. This difference matters for spinach — adjust your planting dates to match your specific region.

Growing Tips

Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring. For fall, plant 6-8 weeks before first frost.

Companion Planting

Plant spinach alongside these companions for better growth:

Strawberries Peas Radishes

The Bottom Line

Spinach can be grown successfully across Louisiana, but your exact planting dates depend on which region you're in. Northern Louisiana gardeners should plan around a Mar 1 - Mar 15 last frost, while those in Southern Louisiana can typically plant earlier. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026