Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in Zone 9a & 9b
Corchorus olitorius
Yes, molokhia (Egyptian spinach) grows in zones 9a and 9b. Plant it outside Mar 1–Mar 8.
When to plant molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 9b
Zones 9a and 9b 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 | Mar 1–Mar 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 20–Apr 27 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 9b
These go outside within two weeks of molokhia (Egyptian spinach) in zone 9b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoMar 1–Mar 8
- Bush BeansFeb 22–Mar 1
- Sweet CornFeb 22–Mar 1
- CucumberFeb 22–Mar 1
- ZucchiniFeb 22–Mar 1
- Winter SquashFeb 22–Mar 1
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 9's season
Zone 9b's frost-free window runs about 293 days, from February 15 to December 5. Molokhia (Egyptian spinach) needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) planting windows in every zone
Zone 9b 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 | Not usually | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 28–Jun 4 |
| 9a & 9b (your zone) | 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 →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
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 9b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
%20in%20USDA%20zone%209b%3A%20when%20to%20start%20seeds%20indoors%2C%20when%20to%20direct-sow%2C%20and%20when%20to%20expect%20a%20harvest.)
Pin this for later
Growing Molokhia (Egyptian Spinach) in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest