When to Plant Summer squash in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Summer squash guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Feb to Oct
- Days to harvest
- 50 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 90 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
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.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb S/D
- Mar S/T/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul S/T/D
- Aug S/T/D
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct T
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Summer squash in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with compost.
- 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
- 90cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep water 2-3 times weekly at base. Consistent moisture during fruiting.
- Good companions
- Peanut (traditional Three Sisters-like combo), Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Cucumber, 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.
Tropical Growing Tips for Summer squash
Recommended Varieties
- Pattypan White/Yellow
- Yellow Crookneck
- Scallopini
Key Challenges
- Powdery mildew severe
- Pumpkin beetle
- Wet season fungal
Pro Tips
- Fast crop: 45-55 days seed to harvest
- Pick fruit small (10-15cm)
- Succession plant for year-round supply
Pests and problems for Summer squash in Tropical
- Fungal Spots Moderate
- Powdery Mildew Good spacing. Avoid overhead watering. Accept some mildew is inevitable in humid climates. Watch
- Pumpkin Beetle Pumpkin beetle Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Blossom End Rot Consistent deep watering. Mulch. Avoid excess nitrogen. Watch
- Wet season fungal Wet season fungal Watch
Harvesting Summer squash
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.
Storing and preserving summer squash
How to keep it
- Freezing. Slice or dice. Blanch 3 min, ice bath. Freeze on tray then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice thin (3-5mm). Dehydrate 55C for 8-10 hours. Season before dehydrating. Keeps: 6-12 months.
- Pickling. Follow a current tested pickling recipe from an authoritative preservation source; do not make up your own vinegar ratio or processing time. Keeps: As given in the tested recipe.
What summer squash costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Summer squash
When do you plant summer squash in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Feb to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
Can you grow summer squash all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Feb to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Summer squash in Cairns?
Sow from late summer to early spring (February to September), so most growth falls in the dry season.
What soil temperature do Summer squash need?
Summer squash germinate best when soil temperature is between 18°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Summer squash are ready to harvest?
Pattypan: 5-8cm diameter. Crookneck: 15-20cm. Skin tender (pierce with thumbnail). Glossy.
What are the best Summer squash varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Pattypan White/Yellow, Yellow Crookneck, Scallopini.
What grows well with Summer squash?
Good companion plants for Summer squash include: Peanut, Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Cucumber, Sweet Corn.
Are summer squash salt tolerant?
Only a little. Summer 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.