FALL GROWING GUIDE · REGION V
When to plant
spinach
in Rio Grande Valley.
Spinach follows a cool-season schedule. A northern planting reminder can arrive months too early for gardeners following the southern reference table.
AVERAGE FALL PLANTING DATE
December 15
Direct sow · Frost tolerant
Direct sowing is the usual method shown here. The historical table is a regional reference; confirm soil conditions and the intended operation before sowing. A recurring regional reference from the 2014 Extension guide. This is not a forecast; the source does not specify a closing date for this crop.
What this means for your garden.
The far southern tip of Texas, including McAllen on the source map, is Region V. This is the latest fall schedule in the five-region guide, with some sowings extending to mid-December.
For spinach, the regional reference is December 15. The source provides no last optimum date for this crop. Dates that look late compared with northern gardens are intentional in this regional table. Check the source region before importing advice from a different climate.
Your next three steps
- Choose the right start.
Save the regional reference date as a prompt to inspect conditions, then record the actual sowing date separately in your garden.
- Give the plant a good first week.
Read the variety guidance for germination conditions. If a hot seedbed gives poor emergence, reassess the conditions before sowing the entire packet again.
- Keep a record you can use next season.
Save your planned date, then change it to the day you actually plant. Record completion in My Garden; the reference calendar stays separate from your own history.
WHY LOCATION MATTERS
One crop. Five different calendars.
How the same crop’s average date compares with Rio Grande Valley.
Texas PanhandleAugust 15122 days earlierWest TexasSeptember 1105 days earlierCentral & East TexasNovember 1530 days earlierCoastal South TexasDecember 114 days earlierSource, scope & a little context.
Table 1 supplies average fall planting dates. Table 2 supplies last optimum dates only for the crops it lists. Figure 1 defines the five historical gardening regions; these are not current USDA hardiness zones.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension · Fall Vegetable Gardening Guide (EHT-056) ↗Dates: Table 1, p. 2. Region: Figure 1, p. 3. Source checked 2026-09-28. Editorial care notes are general planning advice; your county Extension office can refine them.
Read our methodology →Separate each growing stage.
- Direct sow in the bed. Use the seed packet for sowing depth and spacing. Check the actual soil temperature and moisture before choosing a sowing day.
- Check outdoor conditions. Cold tolerance varies with crop, variety, plant age and exposure. It does not guarantee germination or survival in frozen soil.
- Plan the next sowing separately. Check local spring or fall advice and the variety’s maturity time before scheduling another batch. Calendar reminders do not establish a safe planting window.
These are general growing stages, not local planting dates. Minnesota calendar dates are not transferred to other regions. Read the Extension growing-stage guide ↗
Rio Grande Valley in context
