Acorn Squash

Cucurbitaceae

1913 introduction by Iowa Seed Company. 1-2 lb acorn-shaped fruit with deep ribs. CRITICAL: Do NOT cure — curing REDUCES quality and storage life. Eat FIRST from storage (shortest shelf life at 5-8 weeks). Can be eaten immediately at harvest without storage time. Excellent stuffed and baked. Trellisable with sling support. Each plant produces 4-5 fruits. MISLEADING maturity: reaches full size 2 weeks after fruit set but needs 50-55 MORE days to mature.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

80–100 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Not Ideal

10+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–14 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 1"

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "

Needs High

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Resilience

Heat: High Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Heavy feeder

Recommended Recipes Worm castings topdress, Compost tea, Kelp foliar

Harvest

Dark green rind with dark orange ground spot

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Sources

university UMass Extension seed-catalog Johnny's Seeds horticultural Savvy Gardening — When to Harvest Acorn university Colorado State University Extension — PlantTalk: Warm season vegetables (frost tender, best growth temps) university Iowa State University Extension — Yard and Garden: Winter Squash (curing) university University of New Hampshire Extension — Growing vegetables: when to plant (zucchini/winter squash timing) university Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia State University) — Companion Planting in Gardening (Three Sisters) university Oregon State University Extension — Plan now to harvest and store pumpkins and winter squash

More Vegetables

Acorn Squash Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Acorn Squash vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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