When to Plant Spinach in Farragut, Iowa (51639)

Location

Farragut, Iowa

ZIP Code

51639

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Saturday, April 25, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Direct Sow Outdoors

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Based on last frost Saturday, April 25, 2026 · Zone 5b

Pro tip: Sow Spinach directly outdoors 6 weeks before your last frost date.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Spinacia oleracea

Days to Maturity 40 days

Mature Height 6-12"

Spread 6"

Type Leaf

Fruit Size N/A

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Partial Shade to Full Sun

💧

Water

Regular (keep moist)

↔️

Spacing

6" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.5" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Spinach in Farragut?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Saturday, March 14, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

StrawberryPeaBeanBrassicas

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Spinach

See which plants help Spinach thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Spinach Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Bloomsdale Long Standing

savoy 48d

Savoy (crinkled) heirloom spinach with thick, crumpled leaves; bolt-resistant and reliable.

Space

flat-leaf 40d

Smooth-leaved hybrid that resists bolting better than most; popular for spring and fall growing.

Malabar Spinach

heat-tolerant

Heat-tolerant tropical vine that thrives in summer when true spinach bolts; glossy, mild leaves.

New Zealand Spinach

heat-tolerant

Not a true spinach but produces similarly; very heat- and drought-tolerant groundcover.

Common Spinach Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Leafminer

Larvae tunnel between leaf surfaces leaving white, serpentine trails; mines make leaves inedible.

Fix:

Remove and destroy mined leaves immediately; use row covers; practice crop rotation.

Aphids

Green colonies on undersides of leaves; transmit cucumber mosaic virus.

Fix:

Spray with insecticidal soap; use row covers in spring; plant away from infected cucurbits.

🍂

Diseases

Downy Mildew (Blue Mold)

Yellow patches on upper leaf with purple-gray spores on undersides; spreads rapidly in cool, wet weather.

Fix:

Plant resistant varieties; avoid overhead irrigation; ensure good airflow; apply copper fungicide.

Damping Off

Seedlings collapse at the soil line; caused by Pythium or Fusarium in wet, cool soils.

Fix:

Improve drainage; use sterile potting mix for starting seeds; avoid overwatering.

💡

Common Mistakes

Growing in summer

Spinach bolts (flowers) almost immediately when days exceed 13–14 hours or temps go above 75°F.

Fix:

Grow as a cool-season crop in spring (early) and fall; try heat-tolerant Malabar spinach in summer.

Planting too shallow

Spinach seeds need good soil contact; too-shallow seeding leads to poor, patchy germination.

Fix:

Sow 1/2 inch deep; press soil firmly over seeds; keep moist until germination.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let plants bolt in heat and allow seed stalks to dry fully before harvesting.

Processing

Strip dried seed stalks, thresh to release seeds, winnow to remove chaff.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Spinach is wind-pollinated and dioecious — you need both male and female plants. Isolate by 1000 feet for pure seed.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 4 per sq ft of Spinach. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Spinach in Farragut, Iowa? +

In Farragut (Zone 5b), direct sow Spinach outdoors around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Farragut, Iowa? +

The average last spring frost date for Farragut, Iowa (ZIP 51639) is around Saturday, April 25, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 5b.

How long does Spinach take to grow? +

Spinach typically matures in about 40 days from direct sowing. In Farragut, that means you can expect harvest around Saturday, March 14, 2026 plus 40 days.

Should I start Spinach indoors or direct sow in Iowa? +

Spinach does best when direct sown outdoors. In Farragut, sow directly around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

📚 More Spinach Planting Guides

🗺️

Spinach in Iowa

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 5b Spinach Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

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Growing Spinach in Zone 5b

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a popular garden vegetable. In Farragut, Iowa, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, you should direct sow seeds around Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Saturday, April 25, 2026. Spinach grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.