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When to Plant Hubbard Squash in Kewaunee County, WI

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Zone 5b May

Your May planting checklist for Kewaunee 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 May 3
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Time to transplant hubbard squash

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: hubbard squash

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 161 days.

At an elevation of 950 feet, Kewaunee County receives approximately 39.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Hubbard Squash to ensure they mature before fall.

Kewaunee County, WI (Zone 5b) Moderate season
161 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
161 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11
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Kewaunee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Sep 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Aug 30 – Oct 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Sep 16 – Oct 21

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 Kewaunee County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–7.1) overlaps with Hubbard Squash's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — Hubbard Squash will thrive.

How to Plant Hubbard Squash

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Kewaunee 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 ~1,265 GDD — county provides 1,851 GDD Excellent fit

Hubbard Squash Planting Timeline — Kewaunee County, WI

Hubbard Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest August 30 Aug 30 – Oct 4

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
July
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

161 days in Kewaunee County

Growing Tips for Hubbard Squash in Kewaunee County

Direct sow Hubbard Squash outdoors after May 03 in Kewaunee County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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.

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 Kewaunee County, WI?

Kewaunee County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Hubbard Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kewaunee County, WI?

Kewaunee County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 11.

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Your Kewaunee County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Kewaunee County (Zone 5b). 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 Kewaunee 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.