How to Grow Acorn Squash (Table Queen)
Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata
Acorn Squash Table Queen is a compact, warm-season variety prized for its sweet flesh and hard rind that stores well. Gardeners grow this heirloom for its manageable size in small spaces and reliable production of nutritious fruit throughout the summer.
📷 Wikipedia: Cucurbita pepoStarting Acorn Squash (Table Queen): indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Acorn Squash (Table Queen) is not usually started indoors.
Do not transplant; sow seeds directly into the garden only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before planting. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is thoroughly warm to sow seeds directly outdoors. Do not start indoors or transplant early, as cold roots will kill the plant. Bury seeds about one inch deep; they typically sprout within seven to ten days.
Space plants thirty-six inches apart in a sunny spot receiving at least six hours of light daily. Keep soil consistently moist with one to one-and-a-half inches of water weekly, using mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Feed regularly with balanced fertilizer since squash are heavy feeders that thrive on consistent nutrition.
Watch for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and vine borers; remove them by hand or use row covers early in the season. Prevent powdery mildew and bacterial wilt by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest fruits eighty-five to one hundred days after sowing when they turn a deep dark green with a hard rind.
When to Plant Acorn Squash (Table Queen)
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | November – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | August – September |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | July – August |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | June – August |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – July |
Companion Plants for Acorn Squash (Table Queen)
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil and don't compete for space
Strong deterrent for squash bugs and cucumber beetles
Provides natural trellis support and attracts beneficial insects
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps
Repel squash bugs, aphids, and nematodes
Trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles
Deter squash vine borers and cucumber beetles
Repels cucumber beetles and squash bugs
✗ Keep away from
Strong oils can inhibit squash growth and development
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most garden plants
Competes for nutrients and may increase disease pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
