Winter Squash
Cucurbita maxima
Winter squashes — including butternut, Crown Prince, and Hubbard — are among the most rewarding crops for flavour and storage. Unlike courgettes and summer squash, they are harvested in autumn with a hard skin and stored through winter, bringing sweetness and colour to the table for months.
SowingBoth methods
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧💧 High
Days to harvest90–120
Soil pH5.5–7
Spacing90cm × 150cm
Planting Calendar
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Long Season
Winter squash need a long growing season — at least 12 weeks from planting to harvest. Sow indoors in April or May, and transplant after the last frost. In the UK, space is required and a warm summer is needed for butternut types to ripen fully.Training
The trailing vines can sprawl over large areas. Peg down vines at nodes to encourage additional rooting and stability. Alternatively, train vertically up a strong trellis, supporting individual fruits in netting bags as they develop.Curing
After harvest, cure squashes by leaving them in a warm, sunny spot for 10–14 days. This hardens the skin and dramatically extends storage life.Soil: Very rich, deep, moisture-retentive soil. Squash are hungry, thirsty plants needing lots of organic matter.