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When to Plant Acorn Squash in Wayne County, TN

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.

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 1,680 feet, Wayne County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Acorn Squash during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Acorn Squash root diseases.

Wayne County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Wayne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Acorn Squash

Acorn Squash needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Acorn Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 5.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Wayne County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Acorn Squash Planting Timeline โ€” Wayne County, TN

Acorn Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 โ€“ Aug 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

200 days in Wayne County

Growing Tips for Wayne 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Acorn Squash in Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Acorn Squash planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wayne County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Wayne County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.