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Plant Squash (winter) in Zone 3b

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 3b

Start indoors
Apr 22
Transplant
May 27
Direct sow
May 27
Harvest (~95d)
Aug 30

Zone 3b averages 128 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 13 to a first fall frost around September 18. Squash (winter) needs roughly 95 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 74 percent of that window. Squash (winter) is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.

Because squash (winter) needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Apr 22, about 3 weeks ahead of the Zone 3b last frost. Transplants go out around May 27. Starting earlier than that in Zone 3b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: squash (winter) in Zone 3b

Squash (winter) has no useful fall window in Zone 3b. Winter squash needs too many days to maturity for a second planting outside the tropics.

Winter squash needs too many days to maturity for a second planting outside the tropics.

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 3b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.

Spring vs fall squash (winter) in Zone 3b

Planting Sow or start In the ground Harvest
Spring Apr 22 May 27 Aug 30
Fall — — —
Last spring frost
May 13
First fall frost
Sep 18
Growing season
128 days

Squash (winter) in nearby zones

Squash (winter) in Zone 3a (colder) Squash (winter) in Zone 4a (warmer) Full Squash (winter) grow guide Zone 3b planting calendar

Further reading on squash (winter)

Other crops in Zone 3b

Tomatoes in Zone 3b Peppers in Zone 3b Cucumbers in Zone 3b Lettuce in Zone 3b Zucchini in Zone 3b Carrots in Zone 3b Beans (bush) in Zone 3b Peas in Zone 3b Broccoli in Zone 3b Spinach in Zone 3b Kale in Zone 3b Onions in Zone 3b Garlic in Zone 3b Potatoes in Zone 3b Corn in Zone 3b Radishes in Zone 3b Beets in Zone 3b Eggplant in Zone 3b Basil in Zone 3b Cilantro in Zone 3b Parsley in Zone 3b Pumpkins in Zone 3b Sunflowers in Zone 3b

Frequently asked questions

When should I start squash (winter) in Zone 3b?

Start squash (winter) seeds indoors around Apr 22 (Zone 3b).

Can I direct sow squash (winter) in Zone 3b?

Yes, direct sow around May 27.

Can I plant squash (winter) in the fall in Zone 3b?

Squash (winter) has no useful fall window in Zone 3b. Winter squash needs too many days to maturity for a second planting outside the tropics.

Will squash (winter) survive frost in Zone 3b?

No. Squash (winter) is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 3b planting has to finish before the average first frost.