How to Grow Squash
Instruction & Advice for Growing Squash Plants
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
Squash is a good plant for companiong gardening. Consider reviewing the companion planting guide when picking a location for the squash patch in your garden.
Nutrition Information: (back to top)
Under optimal growing conditions, summer squash offers: Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, C, K, B6, Folate, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorus and Copper, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese.
And winter squash: Dietary Fiber, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin A, B6, C, Magnesium and Copper, Potassium and Manganese.
Climate & Growing Conditions: (back to top)
Squash is a warm weather crop (including both summer and winter (butternut, acorn, etc.) squash). It is sensitive to frost and to cold. It can be grown in most gardening climates, but the colder the climate, the shorter the plant’s growing cycle becomes.
How to Prepare the Garden Soil: (back to top)
Squash prefers part-shade or full sun, and will grow in most soil types. It does need good drainage though.
Dig in lots of rotted manure and compost, a few weeks before you plant. The garden soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for your best success in growing squash. (Instructions for testing your garden soil pH level)
How to Plant Squash: (back to top)
You can raise seedlings by starting them indoors 5 weeks ahead of when you want to plant them outdoors. Plant the seeds 1” deep in seed starter mix, and keep the soil moist (but not soggy). For more information on starting seeds indoors, click here.
Or, sow the seeds directly into the garden soil. Make a mound with a depression in the center (like a crater) that’s approx 8” tall. (The crater helps to irrigate your plants later.) Plant the seeds ½” deep in the mound. Space the mounds 3 feet apart. When the seedlings appear, thin to two or three plants per mound.
Gardening Advice Tip: It’s best to cut the seedlings you’re thinning at ground level (rather than pulling them out), so that you don’t disturb the roots of the plants you want to remain.
How to Water: (back to top)
Water up to the squash plants, but avoid getting water on the stems and leaves themselves.
Squash's large leaf structure tends to wilt in hot weather, but it should recover if the soil is kept moist.
How to Fertilize: (back to top)
You can apply a side dressing of fertilizer to the soil (and water it in) once you seet fruit forming on the vine.
Gardening Advice Tip: Too much fertilizer causes the plant to put it's growing efforts into producing extra leaves (resulting in smaller squash than you could otherwise have).
Gardening Challenges: (back to top)
Squash commonly is prone to powdery mildew and bacterial wilt. However, these can be avoided if you don't handle the vines while they’re wet. Also, keep the garden clean of decaying material, and use only fully decayed manure and compost.
Aphids and pumpkin beetles may also be problems.
Gardening Tip: Practice good vegetable gardening by rotating your crops within your garden space with each new season. This will prevent many plant diseases.
How to Harvest Squash: (back to top)
Summer squash take 12 to 14 weeks to mature, but are often harvested earlier before, while the skin is still tender.
Fall & Winter Squashes can be eaten earlier, but are best when fully grown and the skin has hardened.
How to freeze Squash (back to top)
Cook squash in boiling salted water until almost tender. Mash squash, cool and pack into freezer containers leaving head space. Seal and label. Freeze squash up to 3 months.
Cold Storage (back to top)
Winter squash should be stored in a dry place where the temperature is cool, but above freezing.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your squash growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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