Acorn Squash Planting Guide
April acorn squash essentials
Everything below applies to acorn squash broadly. For a plan that's dialled into your county's frost dates and soil, tap your location.
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How to water acorn squash
About an inch of water a week keeps acorn squash happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
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Where to put acorn squash
acorn squash wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant acorn squash. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Acorn squash is a small winter squash with dark green, ribbed skin and mildly sweet orange flesh. It is perfect for stuffing and roasting as individual servings.
Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata · Vegetable · Cucurbitaceae family · 80–100 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Acorn Squash Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Acorn Squash?
Acorn Squash Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Acorn Squash planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 29 | Jun 5 | Aug 28 – Oct 2 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 24 | May 31 | Aug 23 – Sep 27 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | May 20 | May 27 | Aug 19 – Sep 23 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | May 15 | May 22 | Aug 14 – Sep 18 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | May 2 | May 9 | Aug 1 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jul 25 – Aug 29 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jul 17 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 | Jul 10 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jul 1 – Aug 5 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | Jun 24 – Jul 29 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 8 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | Jun 3 – Jul 8 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | May 12 – Jun 16 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Apr 26 – May 31 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Apr 2 – May 7 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Apr 2 – May 7 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Apr 2 – May 7 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Apr 2 – May 7 |
How to Plant Acorn Squash
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
5.5 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
80–100 days
Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.
👪 Plant Family
Cucurbitaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Cucurbitaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Acorn Squash
Acorn Squash matures in just 80–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 9.1 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Acorn Squash
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Acorn Squash
Direct sow after last frost. Harvest when the ground spot turns orange and the skin is hard. Acorn squash has a shorter storage life than butternut, lasting about 2 months.
Saving Acorn Squash Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Acorn Squash by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Acorn Squash?
Acorn Squash (Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata) takes 80 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Acorn Squash grow in?
Acorn Squash can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Acorn Squash need?
Growing Acorn Squash requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.