Home › Winter Squash › Grow in California

Can You Grow Winter Squash in California?

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

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–10b

California last frost

mid-January

California first frost

late December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Winter Squashes in California

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Jan 10

Harvest

Apr 10 – May 10

Dates are approximate, based on California'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 California

California spans more climate zones than any other state. Coastal regions are mild year-round; the Central Valley is hot and productive; mountains are cold; deserts are extreme.