Plotwright
Home
Spinach
Habit (mature) · Victor M. Vicente Selvas / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Limited coverage
Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
A fast, cool-season leafy annual grown for its tender, vitamin-rich basal rosette of leaves — an excellent source of vitamins A, B, and C plus iron and phosphorus per the Missouri Botanical Garden. Cultivated in Europe since the 1400s and probably native to western Asia, it crops best in the cool temperatures of spring and fall and bolts (sends up greenish-yellow flower spikes of no ornamental value) once summer heat arrives, after which the leaves deteriorate.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: moderate (56/100)
Edible
Container
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
6-12" tall · 4" apart
Hardy in zones
2-11
brutally cold to nearly frost-free winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Mild
cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Winter protection and storage
Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.
Search winter protection and storage on Amazon
Seed starting
Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.
Search seed starting on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Fertility and feeding
Compost, balanced fertilizer, slow-release plant food, and organic amendments.
Search fertility and feeding on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
A cool-weather crop per the Missouri Botanical Garden: it produces an excellent crop in the cool temperatures of spring and/or fall but does poorly in summer heat, when plants bolt and the leaves deteriorate. Plants grown in part shade may bolt later than those in full sun; plants can endure some frost.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/spinach
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · Public domain
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright