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SowingDates

When to plant summer squash

Vegetable, tender

Sow outdoors from the last-frost date to about a week later. CSU's germination minimum and the cucurbit sheet's ideal soil are 60°F; Wisconsin's planting minimum for squash is 70°F. Clemson lists indoor starts at 4 weeks or fewer before the last frost, while CSU says vine-crop transplants should be only 2–3 weeks old. First fruit is usually 50–65 days from sowing.

Yellow summer squash growing under broad leaves in a garden bed

The general rule

Start indoors
2–4 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow outdoors
0–1 week after the last spring frost
Plant when soil reaches
70°F
Days to maturity
50–65 days

What that means in different climates

The same rule applied to the safer frost dates of cities from cold to frost-free.

Summer squash planting dates in example cities
CityLast frost · saferStart indoorsSow outdoors
San Jose, CAJan 23Dec 26 – Jan 9Jan 23 – Jan 30
Tucson, AZMar 2Feb 2 – Feb 16Mar 2 – Mar 9
Portland, ORMar 21Feb 21 – Mar 7Mar 21 – Mar 28
Baltimore, MDApr 4Mar 7 – Mar 21Apr 4 – Apr 11
New York, NYApr 12Mar 15 – Mar 29Apr 12 – Apr 19
Nashville, TNApr 16Mar 19 – Apr 2Apr 16 – Apr 23
Louisville, KYApr 23Mar 26 – Apr 9Apr 23 – Apr 30
Omaha, NEMay 6Apr 8 – Apr 22May 6 – May 13
Colorado Springs, COMay 15Apr 17 – May 1May 15 – May 22
Miami, FLFrost rareFrost is rare: late winter to spring; late summer to fall (soil 70°F+).

Sources