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When to Plant Hubbard Squash in Beaver County, UT

Beaver County, Utah Zone 6a May

Your May gardening checklist

Here's what deserves your attention in Beaver County, Utah this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 21
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 36°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Put hubbard squash seeds straight in the ground

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • Transplants going out: hubbard squash
  • Starting indoors: hubbard squash

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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.

Beaver County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 7,589 feet, Beaver County receives approximately 24.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Hubbard Squash during the growing season.

Beaver County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 21
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Beaver County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Sep 9 – Oct 14
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 16 Transplant: Jun 4 🍅 Harvest: Sep 17 – Oct 22
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Oct 7 – Nov 11

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 Beaver County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.8) is more alkaline than Hubbard Squash prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Hubbard Squash.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Hubbard Squash.

How to Plant Hubbard Squash

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 729 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Beaver 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 ~1,512 GDD — county provides 1,801 GDD Good fit

Hubbard Squash Planting Timeline — Beaver County, UT

Hubbard Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Transplant Outdoors June 4 Jun 4 – Jun 18
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 – Jun 18
Harvest September 17 Sep 17 – Oct 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

131 days in Beaver County

Growing Tips for Hubbard Squash in Beaver County

Direct sow Hubbard Squash outdoors after May 21 in Beaver County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 131.0-day growing season in Beaver County is tight for Hubbard Squash (100.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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.

Beaver County receives only 24" of rain annually. Hubbard Squash needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Beaver County, UT?

Beaver County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 21. Plan your Hubbard Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Beaver County, UT?

Beaver County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Beaver County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Beaver County (Zone 6a). 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 Beaver County, UT. 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.