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When to Plant Squash (Winter) in Van Wert County, OH

Winter squash includes butternut, acorn, delicata, and hubbard varieties grown to full maturity with hard rinds for storage. They develop sweet, dense flesh.

Van Wert County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 180 days.

At an elevation of 1,085 feet, Van Wert County receives approximately 41.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Squash (Winter) to ensure they mature before fall.

Van Wert County, OH (Zone 5b) Moderate season
180 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
180 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Van Wert County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Squash (Winter) Planting Timeline โ€” Van Wert County, OH

Squash (Winter) Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors May 9 May 9 โ€“ May 23
Direct Sow May 2 May 2 โ€“ May 23
Harvest August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Sep 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

180 days in Van Wert County

Growing Tips for Van Wert County

Direct sow after last frost on rich mounds. Allow ample space for sprawling vines. Cure harvested fruits in the sun for 10 days before storing in a cool, dry 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 Squash (Winter) in Van Wert County, OH?

Van Wert County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Squash (Winter) planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Van Wert County, OH?

Van Wert County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Van Wert County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Van Wert County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.