How to grow winter squash

Cucurbita moschata · cucurbitaceae family · annual crop

Cucurbita moschata — hero (chairman regenerate) — AI-generated reference image. Have a photo of this plant? Suggest one below.

Growing basics

Winter squash is a warm-season crop, started from seed in the garden or transplanted.

Seeds germinate once soil reaches about 60°F.

Varieties in the library run 100 to 110 days to maturity.

Grows best in full sun.

Frost tolerance varies by variety, from frost-tender to frost-hardy.

Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart.

Sources

4 varieties of winter squash in the library

Waltham Butternut · Honeynut · Butterscotch · Long Island Cheese

Each has a full cited page in the library.

Pests and diseases we cover

Aphid
Pickleworm
Spotted cucumber beetle
Squash bug
Squash vine borer
Striped cucumber beetle
Two-spotted spider mite
Whitefly
Anthracnose
Bacterial wilt (cucurbits)
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
Damping off
Downy mildew (cucurbit)
Gummy stem blight
Phytophthora blight
Powdery mildew

Identification and treatment for each, with photos, in the library.

Row & Bed covers 4 winter squash varieties, each with a cited care timeline and fertilization schedule, identification and treatment for the 8 pests and 8 diseases that reach them, and planting windows worked out for your ZIP.

Set up your garden

See something that does not match your garden? Write to andy@rowandbed.com.