Winter Squash Seed Starting Tips

Winter squash seeds will not germinate at a soil temperature below 66°F (18°C). To start plants indoors, sow seed in peat pots 4 to 3 weeks before the last frost in spring. The indoor temperature should be 66°F to 85°F (18-29°C) until germination. Sow seed ½ to 1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) deep.

Do I soak squash seeds before planting?
How do you germinate squash seeds fast?
How do you prepare squash seeds for planting?
What month do you plant winter squash?
How do you germinate squash seeds indoors?
Can I plant seeds from store bought squash?
Should I germinate squash seeds?
How long does it take for squash seed to germinate?
How many squash will one plant produce?
How can you tell if a squash seed is good?
When should you plant squash seeds?
Which way do you plant squash seeds?

Do I soak squash seeds before planting?

Seed soaking does improve the germination of peas and members of the cucumber family that are planted in warm soil. ... I always try to slip in small summer plantings of squash and cucumbers, which come up in two to three days when the seeds are plumped up with water before they go into the ground.

How do you germinate squash seeds fast?

You can soak your squash seeds before planting to encourage faster germination. Put them in clean water and let them sit for a few hours before planting. However, this is not required – as long as the growing medium is moist and warm, the squash seeds should germinate well.

How do you prepare squash seeds for planting?

Wash the seeds to remove any flesh and strings. Cure the seeds by laying them out in a single layer on a paper towel to dry. Store them this way in a place that is dry and out of direct sunlight. Once thoroughly dried, in 3 to 7 days, store them in an envelope in a cool dry place with the rest of your seed supply.

What month do you plant winter squash?

About Winter Squash

Because winter squash requires a long growing season (generally from 75 to 100 frost-free days), the seeds are generally planted by late May in northern locations to early July in extremely southern states.

How do you germinate squash seeds indoors?

Start Plants Indoors Before the Last Frost

To start the winter squash indoors, put two seeds, 1" deep into 4" peat pots and water them until the soil was moist (Image 1). For best germination, you need to maintain the seeds at a constant temperature of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can I plant seeds from store bought squash?

Seeds from grocery store squash can indeed be planted but will they germinate and produce? It depends on the type of squash you want to plant. The first major problem would be cross pollinating. This is less of a problem with winter squash, such as butternuts, than with summer squash and gourds.

Should I germinate squash seeds?

While winter squash ripen in the summer and autumn, their seeds must be germinated before the heat of the summer sets in. Mother Earth News recommends germinating the seeds indoors if your summer season is short.

How long does it take for squash seed to germinate?

Sow the seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and space them apart 12 to 18 inches, as the squash plants can become quite large. Seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days if the weather is warm enough. If you are transplanting seedlings to the garden, wait until it has been 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost.

How many squash will one plant produce?

In a home garden, the squash are picked throughout the summer. This accounts for a wide difference is squash yield. In general, each plant produces 5 to 25 pounds of yellow squash during the growing season. A 10-foot row of yellow squash averages 20 to 80 pounds of squash.

How can you tell if a squash seed is good?

Water test: Take your seeds and put them in a container of water. Let them sit for about 15 minutes. Then if the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, they most likely will not sprout.

When should you plant squash seeds?

Both summer and winter squash are warm weather plants. Wait until the soil temperature has warmed to at least 60 F (16 C) before direct seeding to ensure your seeds don't rot before they sprout. You can also sow your squash seeds inside or in a heated greenhouse 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost date.

Which way do you plant squash seeds?

Seeds with points such as watermelon, cucumber, squash, pumpkin and corn should be planted point or radicle down. This gives the seed a head start as the root will emerge from the radicle and head straight down, while the shoot or stem will work toward the sun. The radicle or point is toward the bottom of the photos.