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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Clermont County, OH

Clermont County, Ohio Zone 6b May

Top priorities for Clermont County, Ohio gardeners in May

May is a pivotal month for Clermont County, Ohio gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 17
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Get patty pan squash in the ground

    Frost risk is low now in Clermont County, Ohio. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Start patty pan squash under lights

    You're about 24 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Clermont County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 798 feet, Clermont County receives approximately 30.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Patty Pan Squash during the growing season.

Clermont County, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Clermont County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Jul 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 6

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 Clermont County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–7.0) overlaps with Patty Pan Squash's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Clermont 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 188-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 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 635 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Clermont 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 ~879 GDD — county provides 3,149 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Clermont County, OH

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 13 Mar 13 – Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 – May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest June 19 Jun 19 – Jul 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April 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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

188 days in Clermont County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Clermont County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after April 17 in Clermont County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 188.0-day season in Clermont 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 Clermont County, OH?

Clermont County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clermont County, OH?

Clermont County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Clermont County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Clermont 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 Clermont County, OH. 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.