When to Plant Acorn Squash in USDA Zone 11b
Your June gardening checklist
A quick June briefing for Zone 11b gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.
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Survive, don't thrive
June-August is endurance gardening. Keep okra, peppers, sweet potatoes, and southern peas alive. Harvest everything daily before the heat damages produce on the vine.
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Start fall tomato seeds indoors
Yes, indoors — under lights or in AC. They'll be ready to transplant in August when temperatures briefly moderate.
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Add compost to empty beds
Empty beds get a thick layer of compost + mulch to suppress weeds and feed the soil for fall planting.
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.
In Zone 11b, the average last spring frost is around January 1 and the first fall frost is around December 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 364 days.
Acorn Squash Planting Timeline — Zone 11b
Where Is USDA Zone 11b?
The map below highlights the states that contain Zone 11b. Click any state to see the Acorn Squash planting schedule for that location.
Acorn Squash Planting Calendar — Zone 11b
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 4 | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 8 | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Direct Sow | January 1 | Jan 1 – Jan 22 |
| Harvest | April 2 | Apr 2 – May 7 |
Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart
Month-by-Month Timeline
| Month | Activities |
|---|---|
| January | Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow |
| February | — |
| March | — |
| April | Harvest |
| May | Harvest |
| June | — |
| July | — |
| August | — |
| September | — |
| October | — |
| November | — |
| December | Start Indoors |
Free Zone 11b Planting Calendar PDF
Know exactly when to plant every crop in your zone. Get a printable month-by-month calendar customized for Zone 11b with start dates, transplant windows, and harvest times.
Growing Conditions
Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Days to Maturity
80–100 days
Soil pH
5.5 – 7
Zone Temperature Range
45°F to 50°F average annual minimum
Growing Season
365 days (Zone 11b average)
Planting Specifications
| Planting Depth | 1 inches |
| Plant Spacing | 30 inches apart |
| Row Spacing | 42 inches between rows |
Succession Planting Acorn Squash in Zone 11b
Sow every 9.1 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the season.
Growing Tips for Acorn Squash in Zone 11b
Zone 11b offers a long growing season (~365 days). You can plant Acorn Squash earlier and may get multiple harvests.
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
The Gardener's Encyclopedia to Companion Planting
The pairings that make vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow better — and the ones that quietly wreck a bed.
- Proven pairings for 200+ vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits
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Saving Acorn Squash Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Reduce heat stress and sun scorch in hot climates with UV-stabilized shade cloth.
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Related Plants
Acorn Squash in Other Zones
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
When should I plant Acorn Squash in Zone 11b?
In Zone 11b, plan your Acorn Squash planting around the average last frost date of January 1. Start seeds indoors around December 4. Direct sow outdoors around January 1. Transplant seedlings around January 8.
Can Acorn Squash grow in Zone 11b?
Yes, Acorn Squash can grow well in Zone 11b, hardy in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Zone 11b has a growing season of approximately 364 days, which is sufficient for Acorn Squash (80-100 days to maturity).
When can I harvest Acorn Squash in Zone 11b?
In Zone 11b, expect to harvest Acorn Squash from April 2 – May 7. Acorn Squash takes 80-100 days from planting to harvest.
What is the last frost date for Zone 11b?
The average last spring frost in Zone 11b is around January 1, and the first fall frost is around December 31. This gives a growing season of approximately 364 days. These are 50% probability dates — actual frost dates vary year to year.
What should I plant next to Acorn Squash?
Good companion plants for Acorn Squash include Corn, Green Beans. These companions can help with pest control, pollination, and nutrient sharing.
Your Zone 11b Garden Planner — Free
A 22-page printable planner tailored to Zone 11b. Planting dates, monthly task lists, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — everything you need to plan a full season.