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Vegetable Full Sun Regular water

Winter Squash

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Hard-shelled squash that stores for months. A warmth-loving plant that does best between 18°C and 28°C, winter squash adapts well to tropical and subtropical conditions but cannot tolerate frost. Give it full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) and regular watering to keep soil consistently moist, and expect to harvest in roughly 80-110 days. An excellent choice for beginner and experienced gardeners alike, thanks to its forgiving growing habits.

Harvest 80-110 days
Temp Range 12°C — 35°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Winter Squash

Winter Squash takes 80-110 days to harvest. It grows best in 18–28°C with full sun and regular watering. Winter Squash is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Winter Squash in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Regular
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
80-110 days

Temperature Range

18-28°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 18–28°C Tolerates: 12–35°C
Tropical suitable: Yes
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Cure in sun for 10 days after harvest. Store in cool dry place for months. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 12°C to 35°C
  • Optimal growing: 18°C to 28°C
  • Harvest in 80-110 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Winter Squash loves the heat! It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates year-round.
  • 🌱 Winter Squash needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Winter squash flourishes in deep, fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Prepare hills or mounds 60 cm across with a generous bucket of compost and aged manure worked into each. Sow 3 seeds per hill at 2.5 cm depth after the last frost when soil reaches 18°C, thinning to the strongest plant. Space hills 2–3 metres apart for vining types; semi-bush types can be 1.2 metres. Water deeply and infrequently — 25–30 mm per week — applying directly to the root zone to keep foliage dry and reduce disease. Do not water overhead once fruit is set. Apply a balanced fertiliser at planting, then switch to a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus formula at flowering to promote fruit development over vine growth. Foliar boron spray at bloom can improve fruit set. Pinch off small fruits at season's end to redirect energy to mature squash.

Common Pests & Problems

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) is nearly universal on winter squash, coating leaves in white powder late in the season; choose resistant varieties and apply potassium bicarbonate or dilute neem oil at first sign. Squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) is catastrophic — the moth lays eggs at the stem base and larvae tunnel inside, causing sudden wilt; wrap the lower 30 cm of main stem in aluminium foil as a physical barrier, and inject Bt into the stem if boring is detected. Cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum) spread bacterial wilt and chew foliage; use row covers until flowering and apply kaolin clay to deter adults. Squash bugs cluster under leaves, causing wilting; hand-pick egg masses from leaf undersides and destroy adults.

Harvest & Storage

Winter squash is mature when the skin resists fingernail puncture, the vine stem has dried and corked over, and the underside (ground spot) has turned cream or orange from white or green. Cut with 5–7 cm of stem attached — never break the stem off as this creates a rot entry. Cure at 27–32°C with high humidity for 10–14 days to harden the skin and heal any surface cuts; delicata and acorn are exceptions — do not cure these. After curing, store at 10–15°C in a cool, dry room. Butternut and Hubbard types store 4–6 months; properly cured Kabocha can last up to a year.

Popular Varieties

Butternut (Waltham Butternut) is the most popular home garden variety — tan-skinned with smooth, sweet, bright orange flesh that stores exceptionally well and resists squash vine borer better than most. Delicata is a cream-coloured striped heirloom with thin edible skin and sweet, chestnut-flavoured flesh; no need to peel and stores 3 months. Red Kuri (Uchiki Kuri) is a tear-drop shaped, deep red-orange Japanese type with a rich chestnut-like flavour and smooth, nearly fibreless flesh. Jarrahdale is a stunning blue-grey Cinderella-shaped Australian heirloom with dense, golden-orange flesh and excellent storage of 6–12 months.

Where to Grow Winter Squash

Winter Squash can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
Amsterdam, NL medium
Ankara, TR medium
Antalya, TR medium
Athens, GR medium
Barcelona, ES medium
Bari, IT medium
Belgrade, RS medium
Bergen, NO medium
Berlin, DE medium
Bilbao, ES medium
Bologna, IT medium
Bordeaux, FR medium
Bratislava, SK medium
Brussels, BE medium
Bucharest, RO medium
Budapest, HU medium
Catania, IT medium
Cologne, DE medium
Copenhagen, DK medium
Corfu, GR medium
Cork, IE medium
Dublin, IE medium
Dubrovnik, HR medium
Edinburgh, GB medium
Florence, IT medium
Frankfurt, DE medium
Gdansk, PL medium
Genoa, IT medium
Glasgow, GB medium
Gothenburg, SE medium
Hamburg, DE medium
Helsinki, FI medium
Heraklion, GR medium
Istanbul, TR medium
Izmir, TR medium
Krakow, PL medium
Kyiv, UA medium
Limassol, CY medium
Lisbon, PT medium
Ljubljana, SI medium
London, GB medium
Lyon, FR medium
Madrid, ES medium
Malaga, ES medium
Marseille, FR medium
Milan, IT medium
Munich, DE medium
Naples, IT medium
Nice, FR medium
Nicosia, CY medium
Oslo, NO medium
Palermo, IT medium
Paris, FR medium
Porto, PT medium
Poznan, PL medium
Prague, CZ medium
Reykjavik, IS medium
Riga, LV medium
Rome, IT medium
Seville, ES medium
Sofia, BG medium
Split, HR medium
Stockholm, SE medium
Strasbourg, FR medium
Stuttgart, DE medium
Tallinn, EE medium
Thessaloniki, GR medium
Tirana, AL medium
Toulouse, FR medium
Turin, IT medium
Turku, FI medium
Valencia, ES medium
Valletta, MT medium
Verona, IT medium
Vienna, AT medium
Vilnius, LT medium
Warsaw, PL medium
Zagreb, HR medium
Zurich, CH medium

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
Almaty, KZ medium
Bali, ID medium
Bandung, ID medium
Bangalore, IN medium
Bangkok, TH medium
Beijing, CN medium
Busan, KR medium
Cebu, PH medium
Chandigarh, IN medium
Chengdu, CN medium
Chennai, IN medium
Chiang Mai, TH medium
Chittagong, BD medium
Chongqing, CN medium
Coimbatore, IN medium
Colombo, LK medium
Da Nang, VN medium
Dalian, CN medium
Davao, PH medium
Delhi, IN medium
Dhaka, BD medium
Dharan, NP medium
Fukuoka, JP medium
Galle, LK medium
Guangzhou, CN medium
Hangzhou, CN medium
Hanoi, VN medium
Harbin, CN medium
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
Hong Kong, HK medium
Hyderabad, IN medium
Incheon, KR medium
Indore, IN medium
Islamabad, PK medium
Jaipur, IN medium
Jakarta, ID medium
Jeju, KR medium
Johor Bahru, MY medium
Karachi, PK medium
Kathmandu, NP medium
Kochi, IN medium
Kolkata, IN medium
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
Kunming, CN medium
Kyoto, JP medium
Lahore, PK medium
Lucknow, IN medium
Manila, PH medium
Mumbai, IN medium
Nagoya, JP medium
Nanjing, CN medium
Nha Trang, VN medium
Okinawa, JP medium
Osaka, JP medium
Pattaya, TH medium
Penang, MY medium
Phnom Penh, KH medium
Pune, IN medium
Sapporo, JP medium
Seoul, KR medium
Shanghai, CN medium
Shenzhen, CN medium
Siem Reap, KH medium
Singapore, SG medium
Surabaya, ID medium
Surat, IN medium
Taipei, TW medium
Tashkent, UZ medium
Tbilisi, GE medium
Tokyo, JP medium
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
Varanasi, IN medium
Vientiane, LA medium
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
Wuhan, CN medium
Xi'an, CN medium
Xiamen, CN medium
Yangon, MM medium

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
Anchorage, US medium
Atlanta, US medium
Austin, US medium
Baltimore, US medium
Baton Rouge, US medium
Boise, US medium
Boston, US medium
Bridgetown, BB medium
Buffalo, US medium
Calgary, CA medium
Cancun, MX medium
Charleston, US medium
Charlotte, US medium
Chattanooga, US medium
Chicago, US medium
Denver, US medium
Des Moines, US medium
Detroit, US medium
Edmonton, CA medium
El Paso, US medium
Fargo, US medium
Fresno, US medium
Guadalajara, MX medium
Halifax, CA medium
Hartford, US medium
Havana, CU medium
Honolulu, US medium
Houston, US medium
Jacksonville, US medium
Kansas City, US medium
Kingston, JM medium
Knoxville, US medium
Las Vegas, US medium
Little Rock, US medium
Los Angeles, US medium
Louisville, US medium
Lubbock, US medium
Madison, US medium
Memphis, US medium
Mexico City, MX medium
Miami, US medium
Milwaukee, US medium
Minneapolis, US medium
Monterrey, MX medium
Montreal, CA medium
Nashville, US medium
New Orleans, US medium
New York, US medium
Oaxaca, MX medium
Oklahoma City, US medium
Omaha, US medium
Ottawa, CA medium
Panama City, PA medium
Phoenix, US medium
Pittsburgh, US medium
Portland, US medium
Puebla, MX medium
Quebec City, CA medium
Raleigh, US medium
Richmond, US medium
Sacramento, US medium
Salt Lake City, US medium
San Diego, US medium
San Francisco, US medium
San Jose, CR medium
Santo Domingo, DO medium
Saskatoon, CA medium
Savannah, US medium
Seattle, US medium
Spokane, US medium
St. Louis, US medium
Tampa, US medium
Toronto, CA medium
Tucson, US medium
Vancouver, CA medium
Victoria, CA medium
Winnipeg, CA medium

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
Accra, GH medium
Addis Ababa, ET medium
Algiers, DZ medium
Antananarivo, MG medium
Arusha, TZ medium
Bamako, ML medium
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
Cairo, EG medium
Cape Town, ZA medium
Casablanca, MA medium
Dakar, SN medium
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
Douala, CM medium
Durban, ZA medium
Entebbe, UG medium
Fez, MA medium
Freetown, SL medium
Harare, ZW medium
Johannesburg, ZA medium
Kampala, UG medium
Kigali, RW medium
Kinshasa, CD medium
Lagos, NG medium
Libreville, GA medium
Lilongwe, MW medium
Lome, TG medium
Luanda, AO medium
Lusaka, ZM medium
Maputo, MZ medium
Marrakech, MA medium
Mombasa, KE medium
Nairobi, KE medium
Ouagadougou, BF medium
Port Louis, MU medium
Pretoria, ZA medium
Tunis, TN medium
Windhoek, NA medium
Zanzibar, TZ medium

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
Asuncion, PY medium
Barranquilla, CO medium
Belem, BR medium
Bogota, CO medium
Brasilia, BR medium
Buenos Aires, AR medium
Cali, CO medium
Campinas, BR medium
Caracas, VE medium
Cartagena, CO medium
Concepcion, CL medium
Cordoba, AR medium
Curitiba, BR medium
Cusco, PE medium
Fortaleza, BR medium
Georgetown, GY medium
Goiania, BR medium
Guayaquil, EC medium
La Paz, BO medium
Lima, PE medium
Manaus, BR medium
Medellin, CO medium
Mendoza, AR medium
Montevideo, UY medium
Paramaribo, SR medium
Port of Spain, TT medium
Porto Alegre, BR medium
Quito, EC medium
Recife, BR medium
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
Rosario, AR medium
Salvador, BR medium
Santa Cruz, BO medium
Santiago, CL medium
Sao Paulo, BR medium
Sucre, BO medium
Trujillo, PE medium
Valparaiso, CL medium

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
Alice Springs, AU medium
Auckland, NZ medium
Brisbane, AU medium
Cairns, AU medium
Canberra, AU medium
Christchurch, NZ medium
Darwin, AU medium
Dunedin, NZ medium
Gold Coast, AU medium
Hamilton, NZ medium
Hobart, AU medium
Melbourne, AU medium
Noumea, NC medium
Perth, AU medium
Suva, FJ medium
Sydney, AU medium
Townsville, AU medium
Wellington, NZ medium

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
Amman, JO medium
Baghdad, IQ medium
Beirut, LB medium
Doha, QA medium
Dubai, AE medium
Erbil, IQ medium
Jeddah, SA medium
Kuwait City, KW medium
Manama, BH medium
Muscat, OM medium
Riyadh, SA medium
Sana'a, YE medium
Tabriz, IR medium
Tehran, IR medium
Tel Aviv, IL medium

When should I plant winter squash in my city?

The best time to plant winter squash depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow winter squash in winter?

Winter Squash is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Winter Squash Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Winter Squash seeds and starter plants online.

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Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Winter Squash

When should I plant winter squash?

The best time to plant winter squash depends on your local climate. Winter Squash grows best in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C (can tolerate 12°C to 35°C). Winter Squash is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can winter squash grow in tropical climates?

Yes! Winter Squash can grow in tropical climates. It's successfully grown in tropical cities like Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra. Winter Squash requires full sun and regular watering.

How long does winter squash take to grow?

Winter Squash typically takes 80-110 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and regular watering. Cure in sun for 10 days after harvest. Store in cool dry place for months. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Find the Best Time to Plant Winter Squash

See the planting calendar for Winter Squash in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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