Warm-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Acorn Squash

Small, acorn-shaped winter squash perfect for individual servings. Sweet, nutty flavor intensifies in storage.

Sun

Full sun (6-8 hours)

Water

1-2 inches per week

Days to Harvest

80-100

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

36"

Frost Tolerance

none

The Short Answer

Acorn Squash are frost-sensitive and need warm soil and air temperatures to thrive. Start seeds indoors 3 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outside 2 weeks after your last frost when soil temperatures reach at least 60°F. You can also direct sow seeds 2 weeks after your last frost. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is the individual-serving winter squash — each small, acorn-shaped fruit is the perfect size to cut in half, scoop the seeds, fill with butter and brown sugar, and bake. It has the shortest maturity of the common winter squash types (80-100 days), making it viable even in shorter-season gardens. Dark green is the classic color, but golden, white, and carnival (multi-colored) varieties exist. Unlike butternut, acorn squash does NOT improve in storage — the sweetness peaks at harvest and the quality declines after about 2 months.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin acorn squash seeds indoors 3 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 60°F to germinate, which typically takes 5-10 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 60°F. Harden off seedlings for 7 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Acorn Squash can be direct sown 2 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 1" deep, spaced 36" apart.

Growing Tips

Harvest when dark green and hard-shelled with an orange ground spot. Shorter maturity than butternut makes it viable in shorter-season areas. Cut in half, scoop seeds, stuff and bake.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Beans Corn Nasturtiums

Keep away from:

Potatoes

Acorn Squash Planting Dates by State

Click your state for acorn squash planting dates specific to your location:

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026