Squash

At a glance

USDA Zones

3–10

Sun

Full sun (6+ hrs)

Water

High — consistently moist soil

Soil

Loam

pH

Neutral

Spacing

36 in. between plants

Space needed

A 3×3 ft block of the bed

Days to maturity

About 90 days

Planting & harvest windows

Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.

Good companions

• 
  Corn

  Squash shades the soil around corn, conserving moisture and smothering weeds (Three Sisters).

• 
  Bush Bean

  Sprawling squash leaves shade soil and deter raccoons; beans feed nitrogen back into the bed.

• 
  Marigold

  Marigolds deter squash bugs and root-knot nematodes.

• 
  Nasturtium

Keep apart from

• 
  Potato

  Both attract similar fungal blights, and squash sprawl shades developing tubers.

Recommended varieties

• Waltham Butternut

  105 daysseed

  Sweet, nutty winter squash. Stores for months.

• Yellow Crookneck

  50 daysboth

  Classic summer squash — pick young and tender.

• Table Queen Acorn

  85 daysseed

  Sweet acorn squash perfect for baking.