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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Zone 6b May

May in the garden — Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 16.7 hrs
  1. Sow patty pan squash where they'll grow

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Transplants going out: patty pan squash
  • Starting indoors: patty pan squash

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Patty pan squash is a summer squash with a distinctive flying-saucer shape and scalloped edges. It comes in white, yellow, and green varieties with a mild, nutty flavor.

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 246 feet, Yakutat City and Borough receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 66°F, so choose short-season varieties of Patty Pan Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Yakutat City and Borough, AK (Zone 6b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Yakutat City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (31 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 27 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 3 – Aug 31

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 Yakutat City and Borough

How your county's soil matches Patty Pan Squash's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.3) is more acidic than Patty Pan Squash prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Yakutat City and Borough is excellent for Patty Pan Squash — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Patty Pan Squash.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Patty Pan Squash will thrive.

How to Plant Patty Pan Squash

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

Succession Planting Patty Pan Squash

3
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 27 to harvest before frost.

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Patty Pan Squash

Patty Pan 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 Patty Pan Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Yakutat City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Patty Pan Squash Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Patty Pan Squash needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 17
Direct Sow May 27 May 27 – Jun 17
Harvest July 22 Jul 22 – Aug 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Yakutat City and Borough

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Yakutat City and Borough

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after May 20 in Yakutat City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Patty Pan Squash 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. Harvest when 2-4 inches across for best texture and flavor. Larger fruits become seedy and tough. Very prolific producers in warm weather.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Patty Pan Squash in Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 25.

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Your Yakutat City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yakutat City and Borough (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Yakutat City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.