When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in Los Angeles
Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off Los Angeles's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Mar 19 – Apr 9
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 12 – Jul 17
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
85 – 120 d
From sowing to first pick.
Common questions
When can I sow winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Los Angeles?
Direct-sow around mid March (Mar 19–Apr 9) in Los Angeles, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in Los Angeles?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 12–Jul 17) in Los Angeles, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 72%.
How long is the growing season in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has roughly 365 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 Los Angeles's frost dates.
Confidence 80/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.