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When to Plant Acorn Squash in DeWitt County, TX

DeWitt County, Texas Zone 9a June

June in DeWitt County, Texas — your action list

Your garden in DeWitt County, Texas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost March 2
Avg. first frost November 26
Soil temp (4") 83°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Harvest acorn squash as they ripen

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

July will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: acorn squash

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Acorn squash is a small winter squash with dark green, ribbed skin and mildly sweet orange flesh. It is perfect for stuffing and roasting as individual servings.

DeWitt County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 269 days.

At an elevation of 1,649 feet, DeWitt County receives approximately 62.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Acorn Squash during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Acorn Squash root diseases.

DeWitt County, TX (Zone 9a) Long season
269 days
Last Spring Frost March 2
269 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26
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DeWitt County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Acorn Squash Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 21 Transplant: Feb 25 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jun 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 2 Transplant: Mar 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Jul 29

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 DeWitt County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–7.8) is more alkaline than Acorn Squash prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Acorn Squash.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Acorn Squash.

How to Plant Acorn Squash

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

Succession Planting Acorn Squash

3
successive plantings in your 269-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Acorn Squash Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,323 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Acorn Squash

Acorn Squash needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Acorn Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.8" 5.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.8" 9.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 11.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.8" 6.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 7.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 3.7" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.8" 2.3" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Acorn 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.

Acorn Squash needs ~1,642 GDD — county provides 4,909 GDD Excellent fit

Acorn Squash Planting Timeline — DeWitt County, TX

Acorn Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 2 Feb 2 – Feb 16
Transplant Outdoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Direct Sow March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 23
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Jul 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

269 days in DeWitt County

Growing Tips for Acorn Squash in DeWitt County

Direct sow Acorn Squash outdoors after March 02 in DeWitt County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Acorn 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 the ground spot turns orange and the skin is hard. Acorn squash has a shorter storage life than butternut, lasting about 2 months.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Acorn Squash in DeWitt County, TX?

DeWitt County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 2. Plan your Acorn Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is DeWitt County, TX?

DeWitt County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 2 and first fall frost is November 26.

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Your DeWitt County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for DeWitt 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 DeWitt County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.