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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Stanton County, KS

Stanton County, Kansas Zone 6b May

May in Stanton County, Kansas — your action list

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 14
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Move patty pan squash from tray to bed

    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

    Thin ruthlessly once seedlings are up. Crowded roots mean smaller crops from every plant.

  3. Time to start patty pan squash inside

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

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.

Stanton County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 865 feet, Stanton County receives approximately 27.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Patty Pan Squash during the growing season.

Stanton County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Stanton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Aug 11

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 Stanton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) is within Patty Pan Squash's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — 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

4
successive plantings in your 171-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 15 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 606 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Stanton 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 ~761 GDD — county provides 2,479 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Stanton County, KS

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 – May 24
Harvest June 28 Jun 28 – Jul 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
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 6b

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Stanton County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Stanton County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after April 26 in Stanton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 171.0-day season in Stanton 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 Stanton County, KS?

Stanton County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stanton County, KS?

Stanton County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 14.

🌱

Your Stanton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Stanton County (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 Stanton 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.