When to plant winter squash

Tender · frost kills it

Winter Squashis keyed to your local frost dates. The offsets below hold anywhere — but the calendar dates they land on don’t. Enter your ZIP for dates tuned to your city’s nearest NOAA station.

Winter Squash planting timeline

Direct sow

1–3 wks after

Harvest

85–110 days later

-1 wksLAST SPRING FROST+18 wks

Tender: wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting out.

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Winter Squash planting FAQ

Can I direct sow winter squash?

Yes — you can sow winter squash directly outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last spring frost.

How long does winter squash take to grow?

Winter Squash takes about 85–110 days from sowing to harvest, depending on the variety and conditions.

Is winter squash frost-hardy?

Tender: wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting out.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in your area

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to your frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

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Planting windows are offsets from your local 1991–2020 NOAA frost normals. How we compute this.