When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in Arlington
Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off Arlington's last spring frost of Apr 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Apr 7 – Apr 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 12 – Jun 2
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 5 – Sep 9
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
85 – 120 d
Arlington's 206-day season leaves this much room.
Winter squash / Pumpkin on Arlington's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
HARVEST
APR 8
NOV 3
Common questions
When can I sow winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Arlington?
Direct-sow around mid May (May 12–Jun 2) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in Arlington?
Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 5–Sep 9) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When should I start winter squash / pumpkin seeds indoors in Arlington?
Start seeds indoors around early April (Apr 7–Apr 28) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When can I transplant winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Arlington?
Transplant outdoors around mid May (May 12–Jun 2) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Arlington?
Arlington has roughly 206 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow winter squash / pumpkin to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow winter squash / pumpkin 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Arlington's frost dates.
Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.