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When to Plant Acorn Squash in Oneida County, WI

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.

Oneida County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 569 feet, Oneida County receives approximately 39.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Acorn Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Oneida County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Oneida County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Sep 2 – Oct 7
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 21 Transplant: Jun 23 🍅 Harvest: Sep 15 – Oct 20

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
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Acorn Squash needs ~1,035 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Acorn Squash Planting Timeline โ€” Oneida County, WI

Acorn Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Jun 24
Direct Sow June 3 Jun 3 โ€“ Jun 24
Harvest September 2 Sep 2 โ€“ Oct 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

131 days

Growing Tips for Oneida 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 Oneida County, WI?

Oneida County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Acorn Squash planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Oneida County, WI?

Oneida County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Oneida 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 Oneida County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.