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Can You Grow Winter Squash in Alabama?

US · USDA Zone 8a · zones 7b, 8a, 8b

Grows well here

Winter squash grows well here with warm summers — it needs heat to mature and set fruit.

Plant zones

3a–10b

Alabama last frost

mid-February

Alabama first frost

early December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Winter Squashes in Alabama

Start indoors

Jan 18

Transplant

Feb 15

Harvest

May 16 – Jun 15

Dates are approximate, based on Alabama's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Winter Squash

Winter squash (butternut, acorn, spaghetti) are the long-storing hard-skinned squash you plant in spring and harvest in fall. Vigorous, sprawling, and highly productive.

Direct sow or start indoors 4 weeks before last frost; transplant after frost. Give vines room (6-8 ft) or a trellis. Harvest when skin is hard and you can't dent it with a fingernail. Cure in a warm place for 1-2 weeks for long storage.

Full winter squash growing guide →

Gardening in Alabama

Alabama has a humid subtropical climate with long hot summers and mild winters. Most of the state supports year-round cool-season growing and a long warm season for vegetables.