Squash & Pumpkin Growing Guide

The squash family offers incredible diversity—from quick-growing zucchini for summer salads to massive pumpkins for Halloween and butternut squash that stores all winter long.

Summer Squash Varieties

Fast-growing, harvest young and tender:

Zucchini (Black Beauty): Classic dark green, prolific, 50 days
Yellow Crookneck: Buttery flavor, 58 days
Patty Pan: Scalloped shape, great for stuffing, 52 days
Costata Romanesco: Ribbed Italian heirloom, 60 days

Winter Squash Varieties

Longer growing season, stores for months:

Butternut: Tan skin, sweet flesh, 100 days
Acorn: Small, perfect for single servings, 85 days
Delicata: Sweet, edible skin, 100 days
Spaghetti: Stringy flesh, pasta substitute, 90 days
Hubbard: Large, stores very well, 110 days

Pumpkin Varieties

Sugar Pie: Sweet, perfect for pies, 100 days
Cinderella: Beautiful for decorating, edible, 95 days
Connecticut Field: Classic jack-o-lantern, 110 days
Jack Be Little: Miniature, ornamental and edible, 95 days

Planting

When to Plant

All squash need warm soil (70°F+). Plant after last frost when soil has warmed thoroughly.

Spacing

Bush summer squash: 3 feet apart
Vining winter squash: 6-8 feet apart
Pumpkins: 8-10 feet apart

🎃 Space Saver

Train winter squash and pumpkins up sturdy trellises! Smaller varieties work great—just support heavy fruit with slings made from old t-shirts or pantyhose.

Care Tips

Watering

Deep watering at soil level is crucial. Avoid wetting leaves to prevent powdery mildew. Squash needs 1-2 inches per week, especially during fruit development.

Fertilizing

Work compost into soil before planting. Side-dress with balanced fertilizer when vines begin to run and again when fruits start forming.

Pollination

Squash has separate male and female flowers. Poor pollination = misshapen fruit. If bees are scarce, hand-pollinate:

Identify male flowers (thin stem) and female (tiny fruit at base)
Pick male flower, remove petals
Dab pollen onto female flower's center
Do this in early morning for best results

Fighting Squash Vine Borers

These devastating pests are the #1 squash killer:

Prevention: Cover plants with row cover until flowering
Wrap stems: Aluminum foil around base blocks egg-laying
Timing: Plant late to miss borer season
Bury nodes: Vines can root at leaf nodes—more roots means survival if main stem is damaged

Harvesting

Summer Squash

Harvest young when skin is easily punctured with fingernail. Check daily—they grow fast!

Winter Squash & Pumpkins

Wait until rinds are hard (can't dent with fingernail)
Color is fully developed
Vines begin to die back
Leave 2-4 inches of stem attached
Harvest before hard frost

Storage

Cure winter squash in warm (80°F) location for 10 days, then store in cool (50-55°F), dry area. Properly cured squash stores 3-6 months depending on variety.

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