Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in Zone 8a & 8b
Corchorus olitorius
Yes, molokhia (Egyptian spinach) grows in zones 8a and 8b. Plant it outside Apr 8–Apr 15.
When to plant molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Estimated harvest | May 28–Jun 4 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoApr 8–Apr 15
- Bush BeansApr 1–Apr 8
- Sweet CornApr 1–Apr 8
- CucumberApr 1–Apr 8
- ZucchiniApr 1–Apr 8
- Winter SquashApr 1–Apr 8
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Molokhia (Egyptian spinach) needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b 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 | 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 (your zone) | 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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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