When to Plant Winter squash in Cairns, Tropical Guide
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 Winter 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
- All year
- 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 Tropical
- Jan S/T/D
- Feb S/T/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 S/T/D
- Nov S/T/D
- Dec S/T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow winter squash in any month in Tropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical 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 Tropical 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.
Tropical Growing Tips for Winter squash
Recommended Varieties
- Butternut
- Kabocha
- Spaghetti squash
- Acorn
Pests and problems for Winter squash in Tropical
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 Cairns?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Can be sown all year. Dry season sowings (March to October) are easiest, as wet season humidity brings more disease.
When should I plant Winter squash in Cairns?
Can be sown all year. Dry season sowings (March to October) are easiest, as wet season humidity brings more disease.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.