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Butternut Squash
Photo: "Butternut Squash" by missbossy · CC BY 2.0
Vegetable · Winter-squash

Butternut Squash

Cucurbitaceae

THE best storage squash for home gardens. 1968 AAS winner (Waltham strain). Flavor IMPROVES in storage — starch converts to sugar over 1-2 months. Pear-shaped, 4-5 lbs, uniform deep tan when mature. One of few cucurbits with NATURAL SVB resistance (C. moschata). Ideal for eastern gardens with heavy borer pressure. Each vine produces 4-5 fruits. Requires curing for maximum storage (4-6 months, up to 9 reported).

At a Glance

Days to Maturity
100–120 days
Sun
6+ hours
8+ hours full sun
Seed Start
3–4 weeks
before transplant
Container
Not Ideal

Zone Planting Guide

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–14 days
Optimal Temp 85°F
Seed Depth 1"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "
Needs High
Method Base watering only. Reduce as fruit approaches maturity.

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

Uniform deep tan color, no green streaks

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Sources

university UMD Extension — Growing Winter Squash university UMass Extension — Pumpkin/Winter Squash Curing seed-catalog Johnny's Seeds — Winter Squash Curing Chart 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

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Butternut Squash Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Butternut 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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