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When to Plant Squash (Winter) in Trego County, KS

Winter squash includes butternut, acorn, delicata, and hubbard varieties grown to full maturity with hard rinds for storage. They develop sweet, dense flesh.

Trego County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 178 days.

At an elevation of 618 feet, Trego County receives approximately 30.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Squash (Winter) to ensure they mature before fall.

Trego County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
178 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
178 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Trego County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 5

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 519 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Squash (Winter) needs ~1,300 GDD — county provides 2,314 GDD Excellent fit

Squash (Winter) Planting Timeline โ€” Trego County, KS

Squash (Winter) Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 19
Direct Sow April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ May 19
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 โ€“ Sep 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
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€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

178 days

Growing Tips for Trego County

Direct sow after last frost on rich mounds. Allow ample space for sprawling vines. Cure harvested fruits in the sun for 10 days before storing in a cool, dry place.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Squash (Winter) in Trego County, KS?

Trego County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Squash (Winter) planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Trego County, KS?

Trego County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Trego County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Trego County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.