Winter squash planting calendar for USDA Zone 8a

Wilmington NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta, Dallas, Norfolk. Average last spring frost March 28, first fall frost November 5 — a 222-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Winter squash is well suited to Zone 8a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors
April 4 – April 25
Expected first harvest
July 20 – August 17

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
36″
Row spacing
72″
Seed depth
1″
Soil temperature
70–90°F
Frost tolerance
tender
Days to harvest
100 days

Grower notes for Zone 8a

Cure fruit at 80–85°F for 10 days after harvest to extend storage. Plant early enough to mature before first frost.

Plant near: corn, beans

Keep away from: potatoes

Other cucurbits for Zone 8a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.