When to Plant Winter squash in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Winter squash guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra 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 Cool Temperate
- 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?
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How to Grow Winter squash in Cool Temperate 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.
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Winter squash
Recommended Varieties
- Butternut
- Kabocha
- Spaghetti squash
- Acorn
Pests and problems for Winter squash in Cool Temperate
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 Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate 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 Melbourne?
Frost tender and needs warm soil. Plant out or sow direct from November, no later than December, and choose quicker types such as acorn or delicata so fruit ripens before autumn cools.
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 Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.