Succession Planting Spinach for a Continuous Harvest

Succession planting is one of the best ways to keep spinach on your table from early spring through winter. After more than three decades of growing spinach in my raised beds and mounded rows, I’ve learned that staggered sowings—not just one big planting—ensure tender, flavorful leaves for months instead of weeks.

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Why Succession Planting Works

Spinach grows quickly, often maturing in 35–50 days, but it also bolts quickly in warm weather. By planting new rows every 10–14 days, you always have young plants coming up as older ones finish. This method avoids gaps in your harvest.

My Proven Succession Planting Schedule

Spring: Start sowing as soon as the soil is workable (about 45°F). Plant every 10–12 days until warm weather approaches.
Fall: Begin sowing again in late summer. Continue every 10–14 days until your first hard frost.
Winter (mild climates or under cover): Sow in late fall and again in midwinter for an early spring harvest.

For example, in my Zone 9b garden, I sow my first spinach in early February, then every two weeks until late March. In late August, I start again and plant through mid-November under row cover.

Choosing the Right Varieties for Each Planting

Early spring & fall: ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’ for flavor.
Summer edges (cooler microclimates): ‘Tyee’ for bolt resistance.
Winter: ‘Giant Winter’ for cold hardiness.

Matching the variety to the season keeps your crop productive and reduces losses.

Tips for Managing Multiple Successions

Prepare extra garden space or use containers to avoid crowding.
Keep soil consistently moist for germination, especially in late summer heat.
Label plantings with sowing dates to track maturity.

From experience, I’ve found that the key to success is not over-planting at once—your harvest will pile up and go to waste. By pacing sowings, you keep your harvest in step with your kitchen needs.

Spinach Succession Planting Calendar

Season	USDA Zones	Planting Frequency	First Planting	Last Planting	Notes & Tips
Spring	Zones 3–6	Every 10–12 days	4–6 weeks before last frost	2 weeks before temps reach 75°F	Use cold-hardy, bolt-resistant varieties early; mulch to keep soil cool.
	Zones 7–10	Every 10–12 days	6–8 weeks before last frost	Stop when daytime temps regularly exceed 75°F	Consider partial shade to extend season.
Fall	Zones 3–6	Every 10–14 days	8 weeks before first frost	2–3 weeks before first frost	Shorter days slow growth—plant slightly thicker.
	Zones 7–10	Every 10–14 days	10–12 weeks before first frost	Until frost arrives	Sweetest flavor comes from cool nights.
Winter (Under Cover)	Zones 6–7	One planting in late fall; one in midwinter	Late Oct–Early Nov	Late Jan–Early Feb	Cold frames or row covers extend harvest.
	Zones 8–10	One planting in late fall; optional in midwinter	Nov–Dec	Feb	Minimal protection needed; avoid heat buildup in covers.

Quick tip from my garden:
When I succession-plant spinach in late summer, I shade new seedlings with lightweight cloth until they establish—this has cut germination failure by more than half in my Zone 9b beds.