Blog

When to Plant Patty Pan Squash in Green County, WI

Green County, Wisconsin Zone 5a May

Your May planting checklist for Green County, Wisconsin

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 27
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 57°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Move patty pan squash into the garden

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Direct-sow patty pan squash

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

Get ahead of June
  • Starting indoors: patty pan squash
  • First harvests: patty pan squash

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Green County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 167 days.

At an elevation of 1,235 feet, Green County receives approximately 36.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Patty Pan Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Green County, WI (Zone 5a) Moderate season
167 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
167 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Green County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Jul 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Jul 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Aug 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 Green County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–6.9) is within Patty Pan Squash's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Patty Pan Squash.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — Patty Pan Squash will thrive.

How to Plant Patty Pan Squash

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

Succession Planting Patty Pan Squash

4
successive plantings in your 167-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 12 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 663 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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Green 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 ~643 GDD — county provides 2,045 GDD Excellent fit

Patty Pan Squash Planting Timeline — Green County, WI

Patty Pan Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow May 4 May 4 – May 25
Harvest June 29 Jun 29 – Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

167 days in Green County

Growing Tips for Patty Pan Squash in Green County

Direct sow Patty Pan Squash outdoors after April 27 in Green County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 167.0-day season in Green 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 Green County, WI?

Green County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Patty Pan Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Green County, WI?

Green County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 11.

🌱

Your Green County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Green County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Green County, WI. 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.