When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in Tampa
Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off Tampa's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jan 7 – Jan 28
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Apr 2 – May 7
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 Tampa?
Direct-sow around early January (Jan 7–Jan 28) in Tampa, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in Tampa?
Expect to harvest from around early April (Apr 2–May 7) in Tampa, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 69%.
How long is the growing season in Tampa?
Tampa 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 Tampa's frost dates.
Confidence 77/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.