Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in Zone 5a & 5b
Corchorus olitorius
Yes, molokhia (Egyptian spinach) grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside May 24–May 31.
When to plant molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | May 24–May 31 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 13–Jul 20 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoMay 24–May 31
- Bush BeansMay 17–May 24
- Sweet CornMay 17–May 24
- CucumberMay 17–May 24
- ZucchiniMay 17–May 24
- Winter SquashMay 17–May 24
Molokhia solves a problem most of the greens here have: it produces through high summer, when spinach, lettuce and chard have long since given up.
How molokhia (Egyptian spinach) fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Molokhia (Egyptian spinach) needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 29–Jun 5 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Not usually | May 24–May 31 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | May 9–May 16 | Jun 28–Jul 5 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 28–Jun 4 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Apr 20–Apr 27 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Jan 15–Jan 22 | Mar 6–Mar 13 |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for molokhia (Egyptian spinach).
Where to buy molokhia seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's molokhia seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing molokhia (Egyptian spinach)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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