How to Grow Burgess Buttercup Squash
Cucurbita maxima 'Burgess Buttercup'
Burgess Buttercup Squash is a reliable heirloom variety of C. maxima prized for its creamy texture and sweet flavor. Gardeners grow this warm-season crop to enjoy productive vines that yield large, distinctive fruits in the summer garden.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Burgess Buttercup Squash: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Burgess Buttercup Squash is not usually started indoors.
This plant is a warm-season crop that should be sown directly into the garden only after the last frost date once soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 to encourage strong root development. As a warm-season squash, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground has warmed up before planting outdoors. Sow seeds directly into the final location at a depth of about one inch. Expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days under these warm conditions.
Space plants six to eight feet apart to allow ample room for their sprawling vines and large leaves. While this variety does not require trellising, you can train them if desired. Provide consistent moisture of one to two inches per week, reducing watering slightly as harvest approaches. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and vine borers; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent powdery mildew, downy mildew, and bacterial wilt by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the fruits one hundred to one hundred ten days after planting when they are fully colored and firm.
When to Plant Burgess Buttercup Squash
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 | November – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | September – November |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | September – October |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | August – October |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | July – September |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | July – August |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | June – July |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | June – July |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | June – July |
Companion Plants for Burgess Buttercup Squash
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil to benefit heavy-feeding squash plants
Repels squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and ants effectively
Provides natural trellis support and creates beneficial microclimate
Repel cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and nematodes with their strong scent
Trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles, repels aphids
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Deter squash vine borers and cucumber beetles, mature before squash spreads
Attract beneficial insects and provide natural windbreak protection
✗ Keep away from
Strong oils can inhibit squash growth and compete aggressively for root space
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit squash growth and development
Compete for space and nutrients, both are heavy feeders requiring similar soil resources
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
