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Winter Squash Growing Methods

Growing methods for butternut, acorn, buttercup/kabocha squash in 2010 and 2011.

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Updated:

March 23, 2023

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Photo: Elsa Sanchez, Penn State

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Site and Production System

Planting date

Row spacing (center-to-center; feet)

In-row spacing (inches)

Irrigation

Fertility

Harvest
dates

Western: Plasticulture

2010: crop failure

6/24/2011: transplants

Drip irrigation system; applied 1 acre-inch of water weekly

320 lb/acre N applied with a mixture of 50% urea and 50% 19–19–19,
10 lb/acre 12–48–8 was applied preplant.
105.2 lb/acre N,
42 lb/acre P₂O₅,
24 lb/acre K₂O b/acre fertigated over the growing season

10/13–10/27/2011

Central: Plasticulture

6/17/2010 6/14/2011

Transplants both years

Drip irrigation system; applied 1 acre-inch of water weekly

75 lb/acre N applied; P₂O₅
and K₂O not
added
based on
soil test results

Butternut squash:
9/1–9/7/2010
9/26/2011

Acorn squash:
8/30–9/7/2010
9/21/2011

Buttercup/kabocha squash:
9/1–9/7/2010
9/18–9/26/2011

Southeastern: Plasticulture

6/16/2010 6/15/2011

direct seeded both years

Drip irrigation system; applied 1 acre-inch of water weekly

90 lb/acre N, with 50 lb/acre applied preplant and
the remaining
40 lb/acre fertigated
over the growing season; P₂O₅ and K₂O not applied based on soil test results

Acorn squash:
10/19–10/20/2010 10/11–10/12/2011

All other squash: 10/28–29/2010
10/24–25/2011

At all sites, we used a plasticulture system with a single line of drip tape on each raised row covered with black plastic mulch. All sites had silt loam soils. We used synthetic pesticides as needed following the Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendations guide. Squash were harvested at maturity and categorized as marketable or unmarketable.

Reference: Winter Squash Statewide Cultivar Evaluation.

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