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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Scott County, AR

Scott County, Arkansas Zone 7a April

This month in Scott County, Arkansas

Welcome to April in Zone 7a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 59°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Time to transplant patty pan squash

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Plant patty pan squash from seed, right in the garden

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

To set up a strong May, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Scott County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 797 feet, Scott County receives approximately 51.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Patty Pan Squash during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Patty Pan Squash root diseases.

Scott County, AR (Zone 7a) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Scott County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jun 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Jul 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 16

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 Scott County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–7.0) overlaps with Patty Pan Squash's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Scott County 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 moderate (3.1%). Annual compost additions will help Patty Pan Squash.

How to Plant Patty Pan Squash

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

Succession Planting Patty Pan Squash

5
successive plantings in your 209-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Scott County). 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 ~840 GDD — county provides 3,344 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Scott County, AR

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 – May 3
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 – Jul 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

209 days in Scott County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Scott County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after April 05 in Scott County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 209.0-day season in Scott County allows multiple plantings of Patty Pan Squash. Sow every 22.0 days for continuous harvest.

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 Scott County, AR?

Scott County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scott County, AR?

Scott County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Scott County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Scott County (Zone 7a). 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 Scott County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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