Zone 11 · Squash Growing Guide

When to Plant Acorn Squash
in Zone 11

Compact winter squash with ribbed dark green skin. More manageable vines than butternut. Harvest when fully black-green and the stem dries out. Stores 2–3 months.

Plant outdoors
Sep – Dec
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~none
Days to harvest
75–90 days
Difficulty
Easy
Late season — Zone 11
Harvest window: Dec – Mar

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Acorn Squash should be planted outdoors Sep – Dec, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

Cool season planting only in Zone 11.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
36–48 inches
Soil
Rich, well-draining, compost-amended
Days to maturity
75–90 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.5
plant tip · Zone 11

Cool season planting only in Zone 11.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
balanced then high potassium
Key timing
switch to high-potassium when fruit sets

Moderate feeder. Compost at planting plus 2-3 feeds during the season is sufficient.

Companion Planting for Acorn Squash

What you plant next to acorn squash makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Beans
  • Corn
  • Nasturtiums
Keep away from
  • Potatoes
  • Brassicas
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 11, acorn squash is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Sep – Dec once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Dec – Mar. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for acorn squash include Beans, Corn, Nasturtiums. Avoid planting near Potatoes, Brassicas, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Acorn Squash typically takes 75–90 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 11. Expected harvest window: Dec – Mar.

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Acorn Squash in other zones
Crop Guides