Winter squash planting calendar
When to plant winter squash — pick your state
Winter squash timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant winter squash?
Winter squash (butternut, acorn, delicata, Hubbard) requires 85-110 frost-free days from transplant; plan backward from the first fall frost date before seeding. Minimum soil temperature is 18 °C (65 °F); seeds rot in cold, wet soil. Short-season gardeners in zones 3-4 benefit from a 2-3 week indoor start in biodegradable pots to avoid transplant shock to the taproot. Curing harvested fruit at 27-30 °C for 10-14 days extends storage life. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant winter squash vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives winter squash dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these winter squash planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for winter squash's cold tolerance and days to maturity.