When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in El Paso
Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off El Paso's last spring frost of Mar 6.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 7 – Mar 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 4 – Apr 25
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 28 – Aug 2
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
85 – 120 d
El Paso's 252-day season leaves this much room.
Winter squash / Pumpkin on El Paso'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
MAR 6
NOV 17
Common questions
When can I sow winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in El Paso?
Direct-sow around early April (Apr 4–Apr 25) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 87%.
When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in El Paso?
Expect to harvest from around late June (Jun 28–Aug 2) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When should I start winter squash / pumpkin seeds indoors in El Paso?
Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 7–Mar 28) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.
When can I transplant winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in El Paso?
Transplant outdoors around early April (Apr 4–Apr 25) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 87%.
How long is the growing season in El Paso?
El Paso has roughly 252 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 El Paso's frost dates.
Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.