When Do I Plant Winter Squash?

[retiredwith4acres]

I have never grown any squash other than yellow and zucchini but have seeds for three types of winter squash. When do I start the seeds for zone 6b?

 

[Detlor Poultry]

A.S.A.P. We started our Maxima squashes in April. They take 3.5 months to bear fruit, so it depends on when you want your first squash.

the seedhouses tell you to start them all on June 1. (like that's ever gonna happen). If I did that, I wouldd be harvesting 2 fruits a year! They can't fruit after they've been killed by frost, so that's another factor to consider. You'd get the first hard frost.... when? November-ish?

 

[catjac1975]

I am in zone 6 My seedlings are big enough to go in. I will plant them in 2 weeks. Seeds can go out now.

I have never grown any squash other than yellow and zucchini but have seeds for three types of winter squash. When do I start the seeds for zone 6b?

 

[digitS']

J.R. do you have some sort of protected growing situation to protect the squash from frost?

The Weather Service is promising us frost on Friday morning. Altho' not warm (3rd day above 70F today ), the overnight lows have not been very cold for the last couple of weeks. We had frost 2 or 3 days ago.

The buttercup & kabocha seed went in potting soil several days ago and they are up and growing but don't have their 2nd set of leaves yet. They are a little tougher than the summer squashes it seems to me and certainly, a lot tougher than melons & cucumbers. So, they can handle some unpleasant weather if it comes your way.

If you don't have frost in your forecast, 4acres, I would get the seed in the ground. If the weather turns cold after they emerge, you can cover them with buckets or something.

Steve

 

[Detlor Poultry]

Yep, I have a 'protected growing system' It's called the window sill.

 

[April Manier]

I would say that seeds can go out now and seedlings when nights aren't below 50.

 

[digitS']

I just hate it when gardeners in better growing areas say things like "don't plant squash while night-time temperatures may drop below 50" . . .

Looking back to '08 thru '11, in every one of those years: we were still having some nights in the 40's during the 2nd week of July!

Yes, the extension horticulturalists will advise the same sort of thing . . .

Steve

 

[vfem]

I start mine inside in June and move out by July?! Everyone else really starts this early?!

 

[digitS']

Well, let's go with J.R.'s 3.5 months from seed to maturity.

Plant mid-July . . . harvest November 1st . . . hahahahaha! With frost as early as the end of August . . .

Steve

 

[Detlor Poultry]

Well, let's go with J.R.'s 3.5 months from seed to maturity.

Plant mid-July . . . harvest November 1st . . . hahahahaha! With frost as early as the end of August . . .

Steve

Ye, I hope Vfem lives in zone 7 You have to remember that I only raise Maxima and Pepo. The Other two species might grow quicker.

Okay, RW4A, what species (es) are you cultivating?