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When to Plant Squash (Winter) in Wallace 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.

Wallace County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 161 days.

At an elevation of 1,023 feet, Wallace County receives approximately 33.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Squash (Winter) to ensure they mature before fall.

Wallace County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
161 days
Last Spring Frost May 1
161 growing days
First Fall Frost October 9

Wallace County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Sep 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Aug 20 – Oct 15

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.

Soil Compatibility in Wallace County

How your county's soil matches Squash (Winter)'s growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.2) overlaps with Squash (Winter)'s range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Wallace County is excellent for Squash (Winter) โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) โ€” Squash (Winter) will thrive.

How to Plant Squash (Winter)

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Squash (Winter)

2
successive plantings in your 161-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 11 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 199 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Squash (Winter) needs ~1,225 GDD — county provides 1,972 GDD Excellent fit

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

Squash (Winter) Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 10
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 โ€“ May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 29
Harvest August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Oct 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

161 days in Wallace County

Growing Tips for Squash (Winter) in Wallace County

Direct sow Squash (Winter) outdoors after May 01 in Wallace County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Squash (Winter) in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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 Wallace County, KS?

Wallace County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 1. Plan your Squash (Winter) planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wallace County, KS?

Wallace County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 1 and first fall frost is October 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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