When to Plant Squash (Summer) in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow August to February. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
Sow from late August once frost has passed; young plants are frost-sensitive. Hand pollinate if fruit is not setting.
Days to harvest
50 days
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours)
Water needs
Deep water 2-3 times weekly at base. Consistent moisture during fruiting.
Spacing
90cm apart, 120cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Squash (Summer) guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Squash (Summer)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Summer squash includes pattypan (button), crookneck, straightneck and scallop types, all Cucurbita pepo. Fast, prolific warm-season crops picked young and eaten fresh. Bush habit suits smaller gardens.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D T/D - - - - - S S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Squash (Summer) sowing time in Alice Springs?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 24.4°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Squash (Summer) in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Sow from late August once frost has passed; young plants are frost-sensitive. Hand pollinate if fruit is not setting.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with compost.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours)
Spacing
90cm apart, 120cm between rows
Watering
Deep water 2-3 times weekly at base. Consistent moisture during fruiting.

Companion plants: Corn, Beans, Nasturtium, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Potato, Other C. pepo if seed saving

Grow before, grow after

Squash belongs with the cucurbits, the fruiting crops turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
Grow after it
Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)

Give the bed 3 turns before cucurbits go back in. Pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini want a bed with fresh compost dug through.

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Squash (Summer)

Recommended Varieties

  • Pattypan
  • Yellow Crookneck
  • Scallopini

Key Challenges

  • Water requirements
  • Spider mites

Pro Tips

  • Drip irrigation
  • Heavy mulch
  • Excellent production in heat

Harvesting Squash (Summer)

When ready: Pattypan: 5-8cm diameter. Crookneck: 15-20cm. Skin tender (pierce with thumbnail). Glossy.

How to harvest: Cut with sharp knife leaving 2cm stem. Pick YOUNG. Check plants daily in warm weather.

Where to next

What squash costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this October: Lemongrass, Cucumber, Savory and Basil.

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Common Questions About Squash (Summer)

When do you plant squash in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does squash grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.