Growing Acorn Squash

Last updated: 03/15/21

Just think – this time next winter, you could be eating a home-grown acorn squash smothered in maple syrup. Acorn squash (Cucurbita Pepo) are easy to cultivate with a little know-how, nutrient dense, and store well in cool temperatures.

For the home gardener, learning how to grow acorn squash from seed is straightforward and well-worth the effort!

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Contents

Select a corner of your garden that gets full sun for at least 6-7 hours a day for your acorn squash. Before planting, till the soil in this area several inches down. This ensures ample drainage and space for the plant’s roots to extend.

Acorn squash are heavy feeders and will appreciate it if you put down compost and fertilize the soil before planting. It’s also a good idea to avoid planting them where squash grew the previous year. The soil in these areas will not yet have recovered the nutrients that last year’s harvest used up.

Squash have a reputation for taking up space in the garden with their long, creeping vines. Fortunately, many common acorn squash varieties grow as bushes.

This means that they create a considerably smaller footprint in your garden without sacrificing production. Those that do grow as vines can be trained to a trellis and even planted in patio containers if you’re short on space.

Plant acorn squash at least two weeks after the last frost. The seeds will not germinate if the soil is below 65℉. While they can be started inside and transplanted outdoors, they may not thrive if their sensitive root system is disturbed.

Help them transition by starting them in a peat pot that can be planted directly into the soil.

In your garden, you can do the foillowing to get them started:

To thin, snip off unwanted plants rather than digging them up to protect the remaining roots. If using containers, they should be at least 24″ across and 14″ deep.

After your acorn squash have sprouted, you can expect full-grown squash in 75-100 days. As they grow, they need approximately 1” of rain a week. If the soil is damp a few inches below the surface, wait to water the plant for another day or two.

When you water the plant, do so slowly and near the ground.

To ensure a good harvest, make sure that your acorn squash plants are well-pollinated. They will produce large yellow flowers that have either pistons or humps. Humps are just below the flower where the fruit will eventually grow.

After both types of flowers begin to appear, check to make sure there are lots of bees buzzing around. If there aren’t, drag a paintbrush gently from flower to flower to hand pollinate.

While acorn squash are hardy plants, it’s not uncommon for certain bugs to take up residence. Watch out for:

Acorn squash are also susceptible to several diseases and fungal infections such as:

There are many varieties of acorn squash and each one has its benefits. When selecting one, consider your space needs and growing season.

It takes 70-100 days for an acorn squash to go from seed to harvest. If you have a shorter growing season or would like to plant acorn squash after an earlier spring harvest, select a faster growing variety, such as Table Ace (70-85 days to maturity).

Acorn squash produce an excellent yield for the space. You can expect at least 3-5 fruit per plant. To give you an idea of what this looks like – in less space than your living room entertainment center, your family could be eating delicious acorn squash all winter!

For more information on acorn squash varieties, check out your local gardening store or this handy chart of Winter Squash Varieties from Cornell.

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