VegLogGet the app

Squash

Cucurbita maxima · Winter squash in the US

In a typical UK garden, sow indoors late March to late April, sow outside early May to late May, plant out early May to late May, and harvest early September to late October.

When to sow, plant and harvest

Last frost around 20 April, first frost around 31 October.

Sow indoors
late March to late April
Sow outdoors
early May to late May
Plant out
early May to late May
Harvest
early September to late October
Spacing
120 cm apart, rows 150 cm apart
Square foot
1 per 9 squares (30 cm squares)
Sowing depth
2.5 cm
Ready in
75 to 105 days from planting out
Grows to
60 cm
Hardiness
Tender: killed by any frost
Sun
Full sun
Crops for
About 4 weeks

Growing tip

Leave fruit to cure in the sun for ten days after cutting so the skins harden for storage.

Neighbours

Keep apart from

Squashes are one crop rotation group. Try not to grow them where any of the family grew in the last two or three years. How crop rotation works

Guides

When to plant

Pumpkins for Halloween start on a windowsill in April

Sow pumpkins indoors from late March to mid-April and plant out in May once the frosts are over, or sow outside from late April to mid-May under a cloche. Winter squash follow the same timing. Fruit is ready from September and should be cut by the end of October.

More squashes

Where these figures come from

Every crop in VegLog was checked against published growing advice. Dates are worked out from average frost dates, so they shift with your garden. For squash, we used:

Grow squash with VegLog

Add squash to a bed and VegLog reminds you when to sow, plant out and pick, timed to your own town's frost dates.