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When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Live Oak County, TX

Live Oak County, Texas Zone 9b May

Top priorities for Live Oak County, Texas gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost February 13
Avg. first frost December 7
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Bring in the patty pan squash

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

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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.

Live Oak County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost is December 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 297 days.

At an elevation of 3,092 feet, Live Oak County receives approximately 63.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 104°F, so Patty Pan Squash may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Patty Pan Squash root diseases.

Live Oak County, TX (Zone 9b) Year-round
297 days
Last Spring Frost February 13
297 growing days
First Fall Frost December 7
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Live Oak County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (231 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 23 Transplant: Jan 27 🍅 Harvest: Mar 17 – Apr 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (213 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 16 Transplant: Feb 20 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – May 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (206 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 1 – May 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 Live Oak County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–7.8) overlaps with Patty Pan Squash's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Live Oak County is excellent for Patty Pan Squash — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Patty Pan Squash.

How to Plant Patty Pan Squash

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

Succession Planting Patty Pan Squash

8
successive plantings in your 297-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 08 to harvest before frost.

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 343 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Mar 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 7.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 9.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 8.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Live Oak 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 ~1,470 GDD — county provides 8,344 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Live Oak County, TX

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 16 Jan 16 – Jan 30
Transplant Outdoors February 20 Feb 20 – Mar 6
Direct Sow February 13 Feb 13 – Mar 6
Harvest April 10 Apr 10 – May 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June
July
August
September
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

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

297 days in Live Oak County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Live Oak County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after February 13 in Live Oak County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With summer highs reaching 104°F in Live Oak County, provide afternoon shade for Patty Pan Squash and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 298.0-day season in Live Oak 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 Live Oak County, TX?

Live Oak County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 13. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Live Oak County, TX?

Live Oak County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 13 and first fall frost is December 7.

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Your Live Oak County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Live Oak County (Zone 9b). 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 Live Oak County, TX. 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.