When to plant butternut squash in Arizona

Butternut squash

Sow outdoors in Phoenix

Feb 15–Mar 1

Across Arizona the window opens between February 15 and June 11. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Phoenix: Feb 15–Mar 1
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 23
Last frost, Phoenix: Jan 8

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Leave fruit on the vine until the skin is hard and the stem starts to dry.

Butternut squash planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PhoenixFeb 15–Mar 1

TucsonFeb 15–Mar 1

GilbertFeb 15–Mar 1

ChandlerFeb 20–Mar 6

GlendaleFeb 15–Mar 1

ScottsdaleFeb 15–Mar 1

TempeFeb 20–Mar 6

GoodyearFeb 15–Mar 1

San Tan ValleyFeb 15–Mar 1

AvondaleFeb 15–Mar 1

Queen CreekFeb 15–Mar 1

MaricopaMar 2–Mar 16

FlagstaffJun 11–Jun 25

Casas AdobesMar 5–Mar 19

Casa GrandeFeb 15–Mar 1

Lake Havasu CityFeb 15–Mar 1

Prescott ValleyMay 7–May 21

Catalina FoothillsFeb 27–Mar 13

PrescottMay 7–May 21

Sierra VistaApr 12–Apr 26

Bullhead CityFeb 15–Mar 1

Sun CityFeb 15–Mar 1

KingmanApr 9–Apr 23

El MirageFeb 15–Mar 1

Fortuna FoothillsFeb 15–Mar 1

Drexel HeightsFeb 15–Mar 1

FlorenceFeb 15–Mar 1

Rio RicoApr 23–May 7

In Flagstaff the frost-free season is shorter than butternut squash need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Arizona?

In Phoenix, sow outdoors from February 15 to March 1. Across Arizona the window opens between February 15 and June 11, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for butternut squash everywhere in Arizona?

Not quite. In Flagstaff the frost-free season is shorter than the time butternut squash need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Arizona

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Arizona