Winter squash planting calendar for USDA Zone 8b

Charleston SC, Savannah, Mobile, Austin, Jacksonville. Average last spring frost March 15, first fall frost November 15 — a 245-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Winter squash is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors

March 22 – April 12

Expected first harvest

July 7 – August 4

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 8b

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 8b

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.

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