When to Plant Squash (Summer) in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Sow August to February. Right now in September you can sow.
Grow Squash in your space
- Planting window
- November to December.
- 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 Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Summer squash includes pattypan (button), crookneck, straightneck, and scallop types, all Cucurbita pepo. Fast-growing, prolific warm-season crops harvested immature. Bush habit suits smaller gardens. Distinct from winter squash (hard rind, long storage).
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/D | T | - | - | - | - | - | S | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 12.9°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Squash (Summer) in Cold / Highland Australia
When to Plant
November to December.
- 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
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Squash (Summer)
Recommended Varieties
- Pattypan (fast-maturing)
Key Challenges
- Short frost-free window
Pro Tips
- Start indoors
- Black plastic mulch
- Bush habit makes row covers practical
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
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon 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:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
Does squash grow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland 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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.