When to plant butternut squash in Virginia

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors in Virginia Beach
Apr 5–Apr 19

Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 and May 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Virginia Beach
Apr 5–Apr 19
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 11
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

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
Virginia BeachApr 5–Apr 19
RichmondApr 10–Apr 24
ArlingtonMar 31–Apr 14
NorfolkMar 23–Apr 6
Newport NewsApr 8–Apr 22
AlexandriaMar 31–Apr 14
HamptonMar 31–Apr 14
SuffolkApr 3–Apr 17
RoanokeApr 10–Apr 24
PortsmouthMar 30–Apr 13
LynchburgApr 24–May 8
Dale CityApr 19–May 3
CentrevilleApr 22–May 6
RestonApr 21–May 5
HarrisonburgApr 28–May 12
McLeanApr 16–Apr 30
LeesburgApr 23–May 7
TuckahoeApr 17–May 1
AshburnApr 20–May 4
BlacksburgMay 1–May 15
Lake RidgeApr 19–May 3
CharlottesvilleApr 9–Apr 23
ManassasApr 19–May 3
WoodbridgeApr 4–Apr 18
BurkeApr 21–May 5
Linton HallApr 19–May 3
AnnandaleApr 21–May 5
DanvilleApr 15–Apr 29
MechanicsvilleApr 17–May 1
OaktonApr 21–May 5
All 64 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
Virginia BeachApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
RichmondApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
ArlingtonMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
NorfolkMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Newport NewsApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
AlexandriaMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
HamptonMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
SuffolkApr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
RoanokeApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
PortsmouthMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
LynchburgApr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Dale CityApr 19 to May 3Apr 12
CentrevilleApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
RestonApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
HarrisonburgApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
McLeanApr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
LeesburgApr 23 to May 7Apr 16
TuckahoeApr 17 to May 1Apr 10
AshburnApr 20 to May 4Apr 13
BlacksburgMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
Lake RidgeApr 19 to May 3Apr 12
CharlottesvilleApr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
ManassasApr 19 to May 3Apr 12
WoodbridgeApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
BurkeApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Linton HallApr 19 to May 3Apr 12
AnnandaleApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
DanvilleApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
MechanicsvilleApr 17 to May 1Apr 10
OaktonApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Fair OaksApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
South RidingApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
PetersburgApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
SterlingApr 20 to May 4Apr 13
SpringfieldMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
West Falls ChurchApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
FredericksburgApr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
WinchesterApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Short PumpApr 17 to May 1Apr 10
TysonsApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
StauntonApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
FairfaxApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Cave SpringApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
SalemApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
HerndonApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
BrambletonApr 20 to May 4Apr 13
WaynesboroApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
ChantillyApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
ChesterApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Cherry HillApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
HopewellApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
West SpringfieldApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
LeesylvaniaApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
McNairApr 22 to May 6Apr 15
ChristiansburgApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
MontclairApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
CulpeperApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
LortonApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
WoodlawnApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Rose HillMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
MerrifieldApr 21 to May 5Apr 14
BuckhallApr 19 to May 3Apr 12
MeadowbrookApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, sow outdoors from April 5 to April 19. Across Virginia the window opens between March 23 and May 1, 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.

More for Virginia

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia