Home › Winter Squash › Grow in Louisiana

Can You Grow Winter Squash in Louisiana?

US · USDA Zone 8b · zones 8a, 8b, 9a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–10b

Louisiana last frost

late January

Louisiana first frost

mid-December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Winter Squashes in Louisiana

Start indoors

Jan 2

Transplant

Jan 30

Harvest

Apr 30 – May 30

Dates are approximate, based on Louisiana'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 Louisiana

Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate with very mild winters and long hot summers. Year-round cool-season growing is possible; the summer is the only limiting factor.