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When to Plant Hubbard Squash in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Your May planting checklist for Lincoln County, Oregon

Here's what deserves your attention in Lincoln County, Oregon this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 9a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: hubbard squash

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

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Hubbard squash is a large, bumpy-skinned winter squash with dense, sweet, dry flesh ideal for baking and pies. The hard shell allows storage for 6 months or more.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Hubbard Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Aug 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 9 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 31 – Oct 5

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 Lincoln County

How your county's soil matches Hubbard Squash's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Hubbard Squash prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lincoln County is excellent for Hubbard Squash — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Hubbard Squash will thrive.

How to Plant Hubbard Squash

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 192 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Hubbard Squash

Hubbard 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 Hubbard Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Hubbard 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.

Hubbard Squash needs ~1,348 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Hubbard Squash Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Hubbard Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 – May 10
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest August 9 Aug 9 – Sep 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Hubbard Squash in Lincoln County

Direct sow Hubbard Squash outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Hubbard 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

Start seeds indoors in short-season areas. Requires ample space and rich soil. Harvest when the skin is very hard and the color is deep. Cure in the sun before storing.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hubbard Squash in Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Hubbard Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 9a). 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 Lincoln County, OR. 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.