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Plant Squash (winter) in Zone 4a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4a

Start indoors
Apr 19
Transplant
May 24
Direct sow
May 24
Harvest (~95d)
Aug 27

Zone 4a averages 135 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 10 to a first fall frost around September 22. Squash (winter) needs roughly 95 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 70 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 19, about 3 weeks ahead of the Zone 4a last frost. Transplants go out around May 24. Starting earlier than that in Zone 4a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: squash (winter) in Zone 4a

Squash (winter) has no useful fall window in Zone 4a. 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 4a 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 4a

Planting Sow or start In the ground Harvest
Spring Apr 19 May 24 Aug 27
Fall — — —
Last spring frost
May 10
First fall frost
Sep 22
Growing season
135 days

Squash (winter) in nearby zones

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

Further reading on squash (winter)

Other crops in Zone 4a

Tomatoes in Zone 4a Peppers in Zone 4a Cucumbers in Zone 4a Lettuce in Zone 4a Zucchini in Zone 4a Carrots in Zone 4a Beans (bush) in Zone 4a Peas in Zone 4a Broccoli in Zone 4a Spinach in Zone 4a Kale in Zone 4a Onions in Zone 4a Garlic in Zone 4a Potatoes in Zone 4a Corn in Zone 4a Radishes in Zone 4a Beets in Zone 4a Eggplant in Zone 4a Basil in Zone 4a Cilantro in Zone 4a Parsley in Zone 4a Pumpkins in Zone 4a Sunflowers in Zone 4a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start squash (winter) in Zone 4a?

Start squash (winter) seeds indoors around Apr 19 (Zone 4a).

Can I direct sow squash (winter) in Zone 4a?

Yes, direct sow around May 24.

Can I plant squash (winter) in the fall in Zone 4a?

Squash (winter) has no useful fall window in Zone 4a. Winter squash needs too many days to maturity for a second planting outside the tropics.

Will squash (winter) survive frost in Zone 4a?

No. Squash (winter) is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 4a planting has to finish before the average first frost.