vine · direct sow
Acorn Squash: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating acorn squash a few times a week needs about 1 plants in ~13 sq ft, worth about $20 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~13 sq ft | ~2 | ~$20 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~13 sq ft | ~2 | ~$20 |
| 4 people | 1 | ~13 sq ft | ~2 | ~$20 |
| 6 people | 1 | ~13 sq ft | ~2 | ~$20 |
Spacing
30" in row · 60" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
80 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Jun 5 – Jun 20 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 31 – Jun 30 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 21 – Jul 10 | — |
| Zone 6 | May 11 – Jul 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 26 – Jun 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 15 – Jun 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 13 – May 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 21 – Apr 16 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Deep green (or full variety color) with a dry stem, and the patch resting on the ground turned deep orange. Fingernail test: rind should not dent.
Yield
About 5 counts per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~10 lb).
Watch for
Squash bugs · Squash vine borer · Cucumber beetles · Powdery mildew, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with bush bean, sweet corn.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
40 kcal · 1.5 g fiber · 11 mg vitamin C · 347 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Acorn Squash keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Acorn Squash planting questions
How many acorn squash plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 1 plants, which takes around 13 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does acorn squash need?+
Space plants 30" apart in the row with 60" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant acorn squash?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing acorn squash worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~10 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $20 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.