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When to plant winter squash

Start winter squash seeds indoors from 2 weeks before the last frost until it, plant them out 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost and sow seed outdoors 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost.

Your dates for winter squash

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant winter squash where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Winter Squash planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Start indoorsPlant out or sowDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoors
Zone 2aMay 20 to Jun 3Jun 17 to Jul 1Jun 17 to Jul 1
Zone 3aMay 14 to 28Jun 11 to 25Jun 11 to 25
Zone 3bMay 11 to 25Jun 8 to 22Jun 8 to 22
Zone 4aMay 5 to 19Jun 2 to 16Jun 2 to 16
Zone 4bApr 30 to May 14May 28 to Jun 11May 28 to Jun 11
Zone 5aApr 25 to May 9May 23 to Jun 6May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 5bApr 25 to May 9May 23 to Jun 6May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 6aApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2
Zone 6bApr 14 to 28May 12 to 26May 12 to 26
Zone 7aApr 7 to 21May 5 to 19May 5 to 19
Zone 7bMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10
Zone 8aMar 15 to 29Apr 12 to 26Apr 12 to 26
Zone 8bMar 3 to 17Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14
Zone 9aFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 16 to 30Mar 16 to 30
Zone 9bFeb 8 to 22Mar 8 to 22Mar 8 to 22

Where frost is rare

In frost-rare areas plant in late winter to spring and again in mid to late summer so fruit matures before the hottest or coolest stretch; South Florida plants from late summer into early spring.

ZonePlanting months in Extension guides
Zone 9Feb-Apr, Jul-Sep
Zone 10Aug-Mar
Zone 11Aug-Mar

Based on UF/IFAS VH021 Table 1 (squash, winter): North FL Feb-Apr & Aug-Sep, Central FL Jan-Apr & Aug-Sep, South FL Aug-Mar. University of Arizona AZ1005 (Maricopa County): seed in March and from July to early August. zone_9 summarizes North/Central FL and Maricopa; zone_10 and zone_11 use South FL; no Hawaii source checked. Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.

How to grow winter squashYour full planting calendar

Sources