Home › Winter Squash › Grow in Arizona

Can You Grow Winter Squash in Arizona?

US · USDA Zone 9a · zones 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–10b

Arizona last frost

late January

Arizona first frost

late December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Winter Squashes in Arizona

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Jan 20

Harvest

Apr 20 – May 20

Dates are approximate, based on Arizona'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 Arizona

Arizona spans dramatic climate zones from cool mountain forests to hot desert. Low-elevation cities like Phoenix grow year-round; high-elevation areas are Zone 5-6.