When to Plant Spinach and Kale in Fall (Dates by First Frost)

Spring spinach is a race against heat and long days, and it often loses. Fall is easier. University of Minnesota Extension explains that spinach responds to lengthening days by bolting, so a crop sown in late summer grows under shortening days and keeps making leaves. Kale is even more forgiving: it keeps producing after the first frosts, and UMN notes you can still pick and cook it after it has frozen. The trick for both is timing, which you work out by counting back from your first fall frost date.

When to plant spinach for fall

• The window: Penn State Extension recommends sowing about six to eight weeks before your average first fall frost; UMN says about two months before it.
• Mind the heat: Penn State notes spinach seed germinates best in soil between 45°F and 68°F, and UMN says plants can start to flower after several days above 75°F. In most of Minnesota, UMN suggests waiting until mid-August or later to sow so the seedlings miss summer heat. If late summer is still hot where you are, sow at the later end of the window or shade the row.
• How to sow: Penn State suggests seeds about ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart, thinned to 4 to 6 inches once seedlings are about 2 inches tall. Keep the soil moist; dry soil encourages bolting.
• Days to harvest: spinach is quick. UMD Extension lists roughly 28 to 55 days depending on the variety and whether you pick baby or full-size leaves.

When to plant kale for fall

• From seed: UMN suggests direct seeding about three months before the average first frost. Another way to set the date is the rule UMD Extension uses for fall greens: take the variety's days to maturity, add about 10 to 14 days because growth slows as days shorten, and count back from the first frost. For a 55-day kale that is about 10 weeks.
• From transplants: NC State Extension suggests planting about six weeks before the first fall frost. In Minnesota, UMN starts fall transplants indoors in June.
• Spacing: UMN thins direct-seeded kale to 8 to 12 inches apart, or closer if you only want baby leaves.
• Frost makes it sweeter: NC State and UMD Extension both note that frost improves kale's flavor, and Utah State University expects fall kale to mature around two to three weeks after the first frost.

Fall planting dates by first frost

Find the first fall frost date closest to yours. The dates below apply the rules above, so treat them as a starting point and check your state extension calendar. Our planting calendar can look up typical frost dates for your area. Lettuce fits the same fall window; see when to plant lettuce.

Where the first frost comes in November or December, late summer is usually still hot when the table says to sow kale. In those areas, transplants set out as the weather cools are the easier route. Texas A&M AgriLife's fall guide, for example, gives average fall spinach planting dates of August 15 in Region I (the Panhandle, linked to USDA zone 6), September 1 in Region II, and November 15, December 1 and December 15 in Regions III, IV and V. Our what to plant in fall guide has more regional calendars.

How much cold can they take?

• Spinach: Penn State says young seedlings can handle about 15 to 20°F. UMN suggests a floating row cover as cold weather sets in, and Penn State notes plastic covers can stretch the harvest into late fall or, in a good year, early winter.
• Kale: UMD Extension says kale tolerates temperatures of about 15 to 20°F, and Utah State notes young plants come through about 25°F without serious damage while mature plants are very hardy. UMN says kale keeps growing new leaves well past the first fall frosts.
• Overwintering: UMD Extension notes that in mild areas, and with protection such as a cold frame or tunnel, a fall spinach planting can survive winter and start growing again early in spring. Results depend on your winter, so treat it as a bonus.

Tips for a good fall crop

• Use the space summer crops leave. Beans, early potatoes and garlic often finish in time for fall greens. See succession planting.
• Keep seedlings cool and wet. Penn State suggests shade cloth early in the fall season, then covers to hold warmth later. Water often until the seedlings are established.
• Watch for pests. Kale is a cabbage-family crop, so cabbage worms can still be active in early fall; a lightweight row cover keeps moths off. UMN also uses a mesh cover against flea beetles and leaf miners on young spinach.
• Harvest the outer leaves. Pick kale and spinach a few leaves at a time, leaving the center to keep growing. UMN notes fall spinach often grows bigger leaves and crowns than spring spinach.

Fall companions for spinach and kale

A fall bed of spinach and kale pairs well with other cool-season crops such as lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots and onions. Our spinach and kale companion guides cover the best neighbors and the few to avoid, and the companion checker can test a whole fall bed at once.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant spinach for a fall harvest?

About six to eight weeks before your average first fall frost, according to Penn State Extension; University of Minnesota Extension says about two months before. In hot areas, wait until the soil cools, because spinach germinates best in soil between 45°F and 68°F.

When should I plant kale in the fall?

Direct seed kale about 10 weeks to 3 months before your first fall frost, or set out transplants about 6 weeks before it. University of Minnesota and NC State Extension give these timings.

Is it too late to plant spinach in September?

Not if your first frost is in late October or later. With a frost around November 1, the six-to-eight-week window falls in September. In colder areas with early October frosts, September is late, but a cold frame or row cover can still help a small crop along.

Does frost hurt kale and spinach?

Light frost does not. Kale tolerates about 15 to 20°F and frost improves its flavor, and spinach seedlings handle similar cold. A floating row cover protects both through harder freezes.

Why does fall spinach not bolt?

Spinach bolts in response to lengthening days and heat. Sown in late summer, it grows while days are getting shorter and cooler, so it keeps producing leaves instead of flowering.

Can I plant kale and spinach together in the fall?

Yes. They are both cool-season crops with similar timing, and spinach can fill the space between young kale plants and be harvested before the kale needs the room.