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When to Plant Squash (Winter) in Grant County, OK

Grant County, Oklahoma Zone 7a May

Your May game plan for Grant County, Oklahoma

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

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: squash (winter)

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

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

Grant County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 564 feet, Grant County receives approximately 25.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Squash (Winter) during the growing season.

Grant County, OK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27
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Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 24

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 Grant County

How your county's soil matches Squash (Winter)'s growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) overlaps with Squash (Winter)'s range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Grant County is excellent for Squash (Winter) — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Squash (Winter).

How to Plant Squash (Winter)

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

Succession Planting Squash (Winter)

2
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 29 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 973 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Squash (Winter)

Squash (Winter) needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Squash (Winter) Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Squash (Winter) 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.

Squash (Winter) needs ~1,675 GDD — county provides 3,333 GDD Excellent fit

Squash (Winter) Planting Timeline — Grant County, OK

Squash (Winter) Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 – May 9
Harvest July 18 Jul 18 – Sep 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
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

199 days in Grant County

Growing Tips for Squash (Winter) in Grant County

Direct sow Squash (Winter) outdoors after April 11 in Grant County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Squash (Winter) 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 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 Grant County, OK?

Grant County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Squash (Winter) planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, OK?

Grant County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 27.

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Your Grant County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Grant 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 Grant County, OK. 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.