FALL GROWING GUIDE · REGION II
When to plant
spinach
in West Texas.
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
September 1
Direct sow · Frost tolerant
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 source groups a broad western swath of Texas into Region II. Its calendar sits between the Panhandle and the central region, with midsummer starts for many fall vegetables.
For spinach, the regional reference is September 1. The source provides no last optimum date for this crop. This is a large region with differences in elevation and exposure. Use the calendar to organize your plan, then check your county Extension advice and the conditions in your bed.
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 West Texas.
Texas PanhandleAugust 1517 days earlierCentral & East TexasNovember 1575 days laterCoastal South TexasDecember 191 days laterRio Grande ValleyDecember 15105 days laterSource, 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 2026-09-27. Editorial care notes are general planning advice; your county Extension office can refine them.
Read our methodology →