Plant Squash (winter) in Zone 7a

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 7a

Start indoors

Mar 20

Transplant

Apr 24

Direct sow

Apr 24

Harvest (~95d)

Jul 28

Zone 7a averages 198 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 10 to a first fall frost around October 25. Squash (winter) needs roughly 95 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 48 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 Mar 20, about 3 weeks ahead of the Zone 7a last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 24. Starting earlier than that in Zone 7a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: squash (winter) in Zone 7a

Squash (winter) has no useful fall window in Zone 7a. 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 7a 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 7a

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 20	Apr 24	Jul 28
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 10

First fall frost

Oct 25

Growing season

198 days

Squash (winter) in nearby zones

Squash (winter) in Zone 6b (colder) Squash (winter) in Zone 7b (warmer) Full Squash (winter) grow guide Zone 7a planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 7a

Tomatoes in Zone 7a Peppers in Zone 7a Cucumbers in Zone 7a Lettuce in Zone 7a Zucchini in Zone 7a Carrots in Zone 7a Beans (bush) in Zone 7a Peas in Zone 7a Broccoli in Zone 7a Spinach in Zone 7a Kale in Zone 7a Onions in Zone 7a Garlic in Zone 7a Potatoes in Zone 7a Corn in Zone 7a Radishes in Zone 7a Beets in Zone 7a Eggplant in Zone 7a Basil in Zone 7a Cilantro in Zone 7a Parsley in Zone 7a Pumpkins in Zone 7a Sunflowers in Zone 7a

Frequently asked questions

When should I start squash (winter) in Zone 7a?

Start squash (winter) seeds indoors around Mar 20 (Zone 7a).

Can I direct sow squash (winter) in Zone 7a?

Yes, direct sow around Apr 24.

Can I plant squash (winter) in the fall in Zone 7a?