When to plant Squash in the UK

Cucurbita spp.

Squash
Squash · Cucurbita spp.

Squash come in summer and winter types, offering versatile fruits from tender courgette-like harvests to hard-skinned varieties that store through winter. They're vigorous plants that love sun and rich soil, producing colourful, flavourful crops perfect for roasting, soups, or stuffing. With trailing or compact options, there's a squash for every garden size.

60 cm · Full Shade · Low Water

Add to garden
Sow indoors March, plant out May, harvest September to October.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Ideal for patios or smaller plots using bush varieties like patty pan or compact butternuts, often grown in large pots or bags.

  1. 01

    Start Seeds Indoors

    early March to late March UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Sow seeds on their side in pots of peat-free compost about deep, keeping warm at around for good germination.

  2. 02

    Transplant to Final Container

    early May to late May UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Move seedlings to large containers at least wide filled with rich compost once frost risk has passed in the UK.

  3. 03

    Ongoing Care

    mid-May to early September UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Water consistently to prevent drying out, especially during dry spells, and feed regularly with high-potash fertiliser as fruits develop.

  4. 04

    Harvest Fruits

    late September to mid-October UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Pick summer types young and regularly, or let winter types mature fully before cutting with a stem attached.

Companion plants

Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Squash.

Good companions

Plants to avoid

Why companion planting matters

Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Squash to consider

Crown Prince

A classic grey-blue winter squash with deep orange, dense flesh. It crops reliably in cool, wet summers and keeps for months, making it a solid choice for UK plots.

Hunter F1 (Butternut)

An early butternut squash that sets fruit even in poor summers. Its compact plants work well in small gardens, and the small, sweet fruits ripen before autumn frosts.

Uchiki Kuri

This red-skinned, onion-shaped squash has a dry, sweet flesh with a chestnut-like flavour. It matures quickly, so it copes with the shorter UK growing season.

Sweet Dumpling

A small, cream and green striped squash with a mild, sweet flavour and edible skin. Ideal for single servings and reliable in containers or on a greenhouse boundary.

Vegetable Spaghetti

A novelty squash whose cooked flesh separates into spaghetti-like strands. It's a dependable cropper in UK weather and fun for children to grow.