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When to Plant Squash (Winter) in Lynn County, TX

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

Lynn County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 2,252 feet, Lynn County receives approximately 47.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Squash (Winter) during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Squash (Winter) will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Lynn County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Lynn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 16

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 Lynn County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.5) is more alkaline than Squash (Winter) prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lynn County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Squash (Winter) will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Squash (Winter).

How to Plant Squash (Winter)

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

Succession Planting Squash (Winter)

3
successive plantings in your 223-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 12 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 246 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 7.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Lynn County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~2,050 GDD — county provides 4,571 GDD Excellent fit

Squash (Winter) Planting Timeline โ€” Lynn County, TX

Squash (Winter) Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 3 Mar 3 โ€“ Mar 17
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Harvest July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

223 days in Lynn County

Growing Tips for Squash (Winter) in Lynn County

Direct sow Squash (Winter) outdoors after March 31 in Lynn County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lynn County dries quickly โ€” mulch Squash (Winter) with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Lynn County, TX?

Lynn County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Squash (Winter) planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lynn County, TX?

Lynn County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lynn County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Lynn County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.