When to plant butternut squash in Oregon

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors in Portland
Mar 4–Mar 18

Across Oregon the window opens between February 18 and June 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Portland
Mar 4–Mar 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 30
Last frost, Portland
Feb 25

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
PortlandMar 4–Mar 18
SalemApr 10–Apr 24
EugeneApr 18–May 2
GreshamMar 23–Apr 6
HillsboroApr 23–May 7
BendJun 13–Jun 27
BeavertonApr 8–Apr 22
MedfordApr 15–Apr 29
CorvallisApr 24–May 8
SpringfieldApr 18–May 2
TigardApr 8–Apr 22
AlbanyApr 24–May 8
AlohaFeb 18–Mar 4
Lake OswegoMar 25–Apr 8
Grants PassApr 15–Apr 29
KeizerApr 10–Apr 24
RedmondJun 16–Jun 30
Oregon CityMar 25–Apr 8
McMinnvilleApr 12–Apr 26
WoodburnMar 23–Apr 6
BethanyFeb 18–Mar 4
Happy ValleyMar 25–Apr 8
TualatinApr 8–Apr 22
WilsonvilleMar 25–Apr 8
Forest GroveApr 23–May 7
NewbergMar 28–Apr 11
West LinnMar 25–Apr 8
RoseburgMar 30–Apr 13
HayesvilleApr 10–Apr 24
MilwaukieMar 4–Mar 18
All 34 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
PortlandMar 4 to Mar 18Feb 25
SalemApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
EugeneApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
GreshamMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
HillsboroApr 23 to May 7Apr 16
BendJun 13 to Jun 27Jun 6
BeavertonApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
MedfordApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
CorvallisApr 24 to May 8Apr 17
SpringfieldApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
TigardApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
AlbanyApr 24 to May 8Apr 17
AlohaFeb 18 to Mar 4Feb 11
Lake OswegoMar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
Grants PassApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
KeizerApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
RedmondJun 16 to Jun 30Jun 9
Oregon CityMar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
McMinnvilleApr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
WoodburnMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
BethanyFeb 18 to Mar 4Feb 11
Happy ValleyMar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
TualatinApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
WilsonvilleMar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
Forest GroveApr 23 to May 7Apr 16
NewbergMar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
West LinnMar 25 to Apr 8Mar 18
RoseburgMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
HayesvilleApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
MilwaukieMar 4 to Mar 18Feb 25
Klamath FallsJun 16 to Jun 30Jun 9
AshlandMay 13 to May 27May 6
SherwoodMar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
LebanonMar 21 to Apr 4Mar 14

In Bend, Redmond, Klamath Falls 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 Oregon?

In Portland, sow outdoors from March 4 to March 18. Across Oregon the window opens between February 18 and June 16, 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 Oregon?

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

More for Oregon

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon