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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Sedgwick County, KS

Sedgwick County, Kansas Zone 7a May

Your May game plan for Sedgwick County, Kansas

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Sedgwick County, Kansas this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: patty pan squash

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 12). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: 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.

Sedgwick County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 546 feet, Sedgwick County receives approximately 34.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Patty Pan Squash during the growing season.

Sedgwick County, KS (Zone 7a) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Sedgwick County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (106 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Jul 26

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 Sedgwick County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.5) is within Patty Pan Squash's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). 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 196-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 26 to harvest before frost.

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 559 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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Sedgwick 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 ~801 GDD — county provides 2,989 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Sedgwick County, KS

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 – May 10
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest June 14 Jun 14 – Jul 12

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

196 days in Sedgwick County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Sedgwick County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after April 12 in Sedgwick County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 196.0-day season in Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County, KS?

Sedgwick County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sedgwick County, KS?

Sedgwick County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Sedgwick County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County, KS. 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.