Planting guide · zone 5b
When to plant winter squash in zone 5b
In zone 5b, the average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is Oct 8. Here is winter squash's whole year, counted from those dates.
May 22Direct sowSpring
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Rich hills with lots of running room — vines go 10 feet and more.
Seedling care
Direct sow when soil is thoroughly warm.
Growing notes
Plant at the garden's edge and let vines run outward. Butternut types resist vine borers — a smart pick in the South.
Harvest
When the rind resists a fingernail and the stem corks over. Cure 10 days somewhere warm; stores for months.