Plant Squash (winter) in Zone 7b

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

Start indoors

Mar 13

Transplant

Apr 17

Direct sow

Apr 17

Harvest (~95d)

Jul 21

Zone 7b averages 212 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 3 to a first fall frost around November 1. Squash (winter) needs roughly 95 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 45 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 13, about 3 weeks ahead of the Zone 7b last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 17. Starting earlier than that in Zone 7b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.

Fall planting: squash (winter) in Zone 7b

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

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 13	Apr 17	Jul 21
Fall	—	—	—

Last spring frost

Apr 3

First fall frost

Nov 1

Growing season

212 days

Squash (winter) in nearby zones

Squash (winter) in Zone 7a (colder) Squash (winter) in Zone 8a (warmer) Full Squash (winter) grow guide Zone 7b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 7b

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

Frequently asked questions

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

Start squash (winter) seeds indoors around Mar 13 (Zone 7b).

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

Yes, direct sow around Apr 17.

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