When to plant butternut squash in Washington

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors in Seattle
Mar 15–Mar 29

Across Washington the window opens between March 9 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Seattle
Mar 15–Mar 29
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 22
Last frost, Seattle
Mar 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
SeattleMar 15–Mar 29
SpokaneMay 3–May 17
TacomaMar 15–Mar 29
VancouverApr 5–Apr 19
BellevueMar 15–Mar 29
KentMar 27–Apr 10
EverettMar 31–Apr 14
Spokane ValleyMay 3–May 17
RentonMar 20–Apr 3
Federal WayMar 15–Mar 29
YakimaApr 15–Apr 29
KirklandMar 15–Mar 29
BellinghamApr 8–Apr 22
KennewickApr 4–Apr 18
AuburnMar 27–Apr 10
PascoMay 4–May 18
RedmondMar 15–Mar 29
MarysvilleMar 31–Apr 14
South HillApr 18–May 2
ShorelineMar 15–Mar 29
SammamishApr 6–Apr 20
RichlandApr 13–Apr 27
LakewoodMar 18–Apr 1
LaceyMay 6–May 20
OlympiaMay 6–May 20
BothellMar 15–Mar 29
BurienMar 9–Mar 23
BremertonApr 5–Apr 19
EdmondsMar 16–Mar 30
PuyallupApr 18–May 2
All 76 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
SeattleMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
SpokaneMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
TacomaMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
VancouverApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
BellevueMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
KentMar 27 to Apr 10Mar 20
EverettMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
Spokane ValleyMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
RentonMar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Federal WayMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
YakimaApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
KirklandMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
BellinghamApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
KennewickApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
AuburnMar 27 to Apr 10Mar 20
PascoMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
RedmondMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
MarysvilleMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
South HillApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ShorelineMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
SammamishApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 30
RichlandApr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
LakewoodMar 18 to Apr 1Mar 11
LaceyMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
OlympiaMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
BothellMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
BurienMar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
BremertonApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
EdmondsMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
PuyallupApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
LynnwoodMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Lake StevensMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
IssaquahMar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
ParklandMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
LongviewApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
WenatcheeApr 11 to Apr 25Apr 4
University PlaceMar 18 to Apr 1Mar 11
Mount VernonMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
GrahamApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
SeaTacMar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
SpanawayApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Walla WallaApr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
PullmanMay 13 to May 27May 6
Des MoinesMar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
OrchardsMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
Maple ValleyApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
TumwaterMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
CamasMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Moses LakeMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
Mill Creek EastMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Mountlake TerraceMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
Mercer IslandMar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Bainbridge IslandApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
KenmoreMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
FredericksonApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
Oak HarborMar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
North LynnwoodMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Battle GroundMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
EastmontMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Union Hill-Novelty HillMar 15 to Mar 29Mar 8
Cottage LakeApr 24 to May 8Apr 17
Hazel DellMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
Martha LakeMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Bonney LakeApr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ArlingtonApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
TukwilaMar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
Silver FirsMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
CovingtonApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Five CornersMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
EllensburgMay 15 to May 29May 8
MukilteoMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
SilverdaleApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
Bothell WestMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Mill CreekMar 16 to Mar 30Mar 9
Port AngelesMar 19 to Apr 2Mar 12
MonroeApr 24 to May 8Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Washington?

In Seattle, sow outdoors from March 15 to March 29. Across Washington the window opens between March 9 and May 15, 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 Washington

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Washington