How far apart to plant squash
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Colorado State University Extension space squash 18 to 36 inches apart in the row, with rows 3 to 5 feet apart. In a raised bed give each plant 3 to 4 feet each way, and the UC Master Gardeners square foot guide allows one squash every 2 squares. Winter squash vines run farther: the same guides space them 2 to 4 ft in the row and up to 10 ft between rows.
Utah State University Extension plants in mounds instead of single plants: 4 to 6 seeds per mound, mounds 4 feet apart, thinned to two plants once they have two leaves.
How many squash plants fit a raised bed
| Bed | 42 in each way (square) | Square foot method (1 per 2 squares) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 1 | 8 |
| 4 × 8 ft | 2 | 16 |
| 3 × 6 ft | 0 | 9 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 3 | 24 |
The first column is the calculator's default, 42 inches in a square pattern with half a spacing clear along every edge. A 3 ft wide bed is narrower than one 42 inch square, so the count there is zero, because the calculator only counts plants that keep their full share of ground. The square foot column counts two squares per plant and fills the bed to its edges, so treat it as the most the bed could hold.
Summer or winter squash?
| Summer squash (bush) | Winter squash (vining) | |
|---|---|---|
| In the row | 18 to 36 in | 24 to 48 in |
| Between rows | 3 to 5 ft | 3 to 10 ft |
| Plants in a 25 ft row | 11 at 27 in | 8 at 36 in |
| Harvest | 3 to 5 days after the flower opens | 45 to 55 days after flowering |
Summer squash (yellow, crookneck, pattypan) is picked young, about 50 days from seeding. Winter squash (butternut, acorn, buttercup, banana) needs about 100 days, and is harvested when the rind resists a fingernail. Both use the same 3 to 4 ft bed spacing in the data; the difference shows up in the rows, where winter squash needs up to twice the room. Choose the variety in the calculator to switch. Zucchini has its own page, the zucchini spacing calculator.
Squash in containers
Only bush types suit containers, according to Virginia Tech's container guide, which with Colorado State calls for at least 5 gallons and 8 inches of soil: one plant per 5 gallon bucket. Texas A&M AgriLife's container guide (E-545) agrees on 5 gallons and one plant.
How deep and when
Sow squash seed 1 to 1½ inches deep once the soil is 65°F or all frost danger has passed (Utah State). The dates for your ZIP code are on the squash planting dates page.
Using the calculator
Choose a bed, a row or an area. Rows uses 27 inches in the row and 4 ft between rows for the default; pick Winter squash for the wider vining figures. To fit squash next to smaller crops, use the raised bed planner.