Orach (Mountain Spinach) in Zone 11a & 11b
Atriplex hortensis
Yes, orach (mountain spinach) grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside Dec 18–Dec 25.
When to plant orach (mountain spinach) in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 18–Dec 25 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 1–Feb 8 (~45 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of orach (mountain spinach) in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Flower SproutsDec 18–Dec 25
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Dec 18–Dec 25
- KalettesDec 18–Dec 25
- KomatsunaDec 18–Dec 25
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
Orach, also called mountain spinach, is a heat-tolerant spinach substitute that keeps producing through summer weather that would send true spinach straight into bolting.
How orach (mountain spinach) fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Orach (Mountain Spinach) planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 6–May 13 | Jun 20–Jun 27 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Jun 15–Jun 22 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Jun 10–Jun 17 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 11–May 18 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Apr 25–May 2 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Mar 18–Mar 25 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 16–Jan 23 | Mar 2–Mar 9 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Not usually | Dec 18–Dec 25 | Feb 1–Feb 8 |
Harvest dates are about 45 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for orach (mountain spinach).
Where to buy orach seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's orach seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing orach (mountain spinach)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Orach (Mountain Spinach) in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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