Acorn Squash
Cucurbita pepo
Acorn squash is a sprawling annual vine that prefers full sun and moderately moist soil. It is easy to sow from seed when the soil is warm, and it is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick facts
- Germination time
- Not yet verified
- Germination temperature
- Not yet verified
- Sowing depth
- Not yet verified
- Spacing between plants
- Not yet verified
- Days to maturity
- Not yet verified
- Sun
- Full sun
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
By SeedBattle EditorsUpdated
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01 · Overview
About acorn squash
Acorn squash is a sprawling vine with yellow flowers. Its mild-flavored fruit can be baked, fried, added to pasta, or used in soups. The plant is a tender annual, and it is native to North America. It is an aggressive grower that needs room to spread.
Growing details
- Start indoors
- Not yet verified
- Sow outdoors
- Not yet verified
- Water
- Moderate
- Containers
- Not yet verified
- Height
- Not yet verified
- Spread
- 0.6–7.6 m2–25 ft
- Frost tolerance
- Not yet verified
- Soil pH
- pH 6.0–8.0
- Life cycle
- Annual
02 · How to grow
How to grow acorn squash from seed
Acorn squash is easy to sow from seed, especially when the soil is warm. Transplants can go out in late spring, early summer, or after the last frost. Choose a spot with full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
Soil. In late fall, work compost into the soil around the plants to help them grow well. The plant prefers moderately moist soil with a neutral pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
03 · Care
Caring for acorn squash
Keep the soil moderately moist. Mulch around the plants to help hold in moisture and reduce competition from weeds. Acorn squash is best suited to large landscapes, but it also performs well in vegetable gardens, on trellises, and as a cover for bare soil.
04 · Problems
Common acorn squash problems
Slugs, aphids, and beetles are the pests and problems listed for this plant.
05 · Storage
Storing acorn squash
Store acorn squash at 50 to 55 °F (10 to 13 °C). Some acorn-type squash turn yellow when stored above 55 °F (13 °C), and high storage temperatures can make the flesh stringy.
06 · Safety
Acorn Squash safety
Acorn squash is non-toxic to dogs and non-toxic to cats.
Acorn Squash questions
When should I plant acorn squash?
Acorn squash is easy to sow from seed when the soil is warm. Transplants can go out in late spring, early summer, or after the last frost.
How much sun does acorn squash need?
It needs full sun, which means 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day.
Is acorn squash safe for cats and dogs?
Acorn squash is non-toxic to both cats and dogs.
How should I store acorn squash?
Store it at 50 to 55 °F (10 to 13 °C). Some acorn squash turn yellow when kept above 55 °F (13 °C).
Quick answers
More acorn squash questions
Short answers taken from the growing facts on this page.
Is acorn squash an annual or a perennial?
Acorn squash is an annual.
What soil pH does acorn squash need?
Aim for soil at pH 6.0–8.0.
How much water does acorn squash need?
Acorn squash has moderate water needs.
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