Blog

When to Plant Delicata Squash in Glenn County, CA

Glenn County, California Zone 9b May

This month in Glenn County, California

Each item below is timed to Glenn County, California's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 6
Avg. first frost November 28
Soil temp (4") 75°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.2 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: delicata squash

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Delicata squash is a winter squash with an edible skin and sweet, creamy orange flesh. Its compact vines make it suitable for smaller gardens.

Glenn County, California is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost is November 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 267 days.

At an elevation of 270 feet, Glenn County receives approximately 27.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Delicata Squash during the growing season.

Glenn County, CA (Zone 9b) Long season
267 days
Last Spring Frost March 6
267 growing days
First Fall Frost November 28

Glenn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 26 Transplant: Mar 2 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (119 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Aug 22

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 Glenn County

How your county's soil matches Delicata Squash's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.9) is more alkaline than Delicata Squash prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Glenn County is excellent for Delicata Squash — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Delicata Squash.

How to Plant Delicata Squash

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

Succession Planting Delicata Squash

3
successive plantings in your 267-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 20 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,636 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Delicata Squash

Delicata 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 Delicata Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 5.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.1" 4.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.3" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Glenn County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Delicata 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.

Delicata Squash needs ~1,440 GDD — county provides 4,272 GDD Excellent fit

Delicata Squash Planting Timeline — Glenn County, CA

Delicata Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 6 Feb 6 – Feb 20
Transplant Outdoors March 13 Mar 13 – Mar 27
Direct Sow March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 27
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 – Jul 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

267 days in Glenn County

Growing Tips for Delicata Squash in Glenn County

Direct sow Delicata Squash outdoors after March 06 in Glenn County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Delicata 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 on mounds. Harvest when skin is hard and ivory with green stripes. The thin skin does not need peeling. Stores 2-3 months in a cool place.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Delicata Squash in Glenn County, CA?

Glenn County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of March 6. Plan your Delicata Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Glenn County, CA?

Glenn County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is March 6 and first fall frost is November 28.

🌱

Your Glenn County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Glenn County (Zone 9b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Glenn County, CA. 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.