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When to Plant Acorn Squash in Emmons County, ND

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.

Emmons County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 840 feet, Emmons County receives approximately 32.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Acorn Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Emmons County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Emmons County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Aug 17 – Sep 21
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Sep 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: Jun 11 🍅 Harvest: Sep 3 – Oct 8

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 9 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Acorn Squash needs ~968 GDD — county provides 1,494 GDD Excellent fit

Acorn Squash Planting Timeline โ€” Emmons County, ND

Acorn Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors June 2 Jun 2 โ€“ Jun 16
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jun 16
Harvest August 25 Aug 25 โ€“ Sep 29

Plant 1" deep ยท 30" apart ยท Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

80โ€“100 days

Soil pH

5.5 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4a

Growing Season

139 days

Growing Tips for Emmons County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Acorn Squash in Emmons County, ND?

Emmons County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Acorn Squash planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Emmons County, ND?

Emmons County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Emmons County gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Emmons County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.