Acorn Squash

Acorn Squash

Cucurbita pepo

Sow outdoors 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Space plants 36 in (91 cm) apart.

Photo: Christopher Sessums from Gainesville, US of A, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Direct Sow

From seedRecommended
  1. Sow outdoors2 weeks after your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 95 days after sowing

Optimal Indoor Start

From seed
  1. Start indoors1 week before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week after your last spring frost
  3. Plant out2 weeks after your last spring frost
  4. First harvestabout 95 days after sowing

Growing acorn squash

Spacing in the row
36 in (91 cm)
Between rows
60 in (152 cm)
Planting depth
1 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loam, pH 6.0-7.0 (balanced)
Germination
7-14 days at 65-85°F
Harvest season
Late Summer, Fall
Mature height
12-24 inches (bush), 4-6 feet (vining spread)
Support
Trellis (vining varieties), None (bush varieties or sprawl)
Life cycle
Annual

Sow 1 inch deep, 2-3 seeds per mound. Thin to the strongest plant.

Watering. Consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruit set. Water at the base to prevent powdery mildew.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid fertilizer (half strength) once true leaves appear.
Growing
Balanced granular or liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
Flowering and fruiting
High phosphorus/potassium fertilizer once flowering begins.
How often
Every 3-4 weeks during active growth/fruiting.
Note
Avoid high nitrogen once flowering starts to prevent excessive leaf growth over fruit development.

Your acorn squash, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add acorn squash to your planting calendar →

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