There are two main types of squash to grow in your Phoenix or zone 9b garden: winter and summer.
Squash is available in a variety including summer squashes, butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash, hubbard, crookneck, are easy to grow.
Are you ready to grow squash in your garden? Find out when to plant, how to take care of and when to harvest squash in Arizona.
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Squash is part of the Cucurbitaceae family. While squash are often referred to as either winter or summer squash, in Phoenix either type is planted at the same time of year.
Plant squash in the summer and again in the spring. They can take a lot of space in your garden, but for this they produce three to ten pounds of produce per plant.
Phoenix Gardening Steps: Grow Squash
- When and how to plant squash
- What does squash need to grow?
- What grows well near squash and what doesn’t?
- Harvesting squash- When is the ideal time to pick squash?
When to Plant & How to Grow Squash
Squash are warm season plants. They take a lot of space in a garden, however they also produce a lot, Plant squash in the months of July, August, February, March and April.
Sow seeds under an inch of soil. Seedlings should appear within two weeks.
Squash plants can spread out four feet and gain a height up to two and half feet.
How to Care For Squash: What Does Squash Need to Grow?
Light Requirements: Squash need full sun or about 6-8 hours of sun a day.
Soil Requirements: Prefers fertile well-drained soil. Squash like most vine crops prefer slightly acidic pH. The soil pH range of 6- 6.5 is ideal.
Water Requirements: Squash like consistent moisture. Provide 1″ of water per week or as needed.
Provide squash with a trellis and train them to climb vertically to save space in the garden bed.
Companion Plants for Squash
Radishes and nasturtiums are great companion plants for squash. They help repel insects.
When to Harvest Squash in Phoenix
Squash plants take 60-90 days from the day of planting until harvest day. Squash planted in March would be ready for harvest in May and June. If planted in the summer squash is ready to harvest October and November.
