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When to Plant Butternut Squash in Weakley County, TN

Butternut squash is a popular winter squash with a long neck, small seed cavity, and sweet, nutty orange flesh. It stores exceptionally well for months.

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,314 feet, Weakley County receives approximately 45.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Butternut Squash during the growing season.

Weakley County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Weakley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Butternut Squash

Butternut 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 Butternut Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Butternut Squash Planting Timeline โ€” Weakley County, TN

Butternut Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 โ€“ Aug 23

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

85โ€“110 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

205 days in Weakley County

Growing Tips for Weakley County

Start seeds indoors 3 weeks early or direct sow after frost. Allow 6-8 feet for sprawling vines. Harvest when the skin is hard and uniformly tan. Cure in the sun for 10 days.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Butternut Squash in Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Butternut Squash planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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