When to Plant Winter squash in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Winter squash 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.
- Planting window
- Oct to Dec
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Hard-rind squash such as butternut, kabocha, acorn and spaghetti squash, left on the vine until fully mature and then cured so they keep for months.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct S
- Nov S/T/D
- Dec T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Winter squash included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Winter squash in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost; a raised mound helps drainage.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours)
- Spacing
- 90-120cm apart, 180cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep water at the base 1-2 times a week, more in heat. Ease off as the fruit colours up to harden the rind.
- Good companions
- Sweet Corn
- Keep away from
- Potato
- 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.
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Winter squash
Recommended Varieties
- Butternut
- Kabocha
- Spaghetti squash
- Acorn
Pests and problems for Winter squash in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Winter squash
When ready: Rind too hard to dent with a thumbnail, full colour, and the stem next to the fruit dry and corky.
How to harvest: Cut with 5-10 cm of stem. Cure 10-14 days in a warm, dry, airy spot before storing.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Winter squash
When do you plant winter squash in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Dec
Can you grow winter squash all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Winter squash in Canberra?
Winter squash needs a long warm season, so start in trays in October and plant out after the last frost. Quicker types such as acorn and delicata suit the short season best; pick before the first heavy frost.
How do I know when Winter squash are ready to harvest?
Rind too hard to dent with a thumbnail, full colour, and the stem next to the fruit dry and corky.
What are the best Winter squash varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Butternut, Kabocha, Spaghetti squash, Acorn.
What grows well with Winter squash?
Good companion plants for Winter squash include: Sweet Corn.
Are winter squash salt tolerant?
Only a little. Winter squash are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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.