When to plant
squash in the UK
Big hungry plants — give them space and feed them well. Leave to cure in the sun before storing and they'll keep for months.
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
16 weeks from planting out to harvest · Start indoors 6 weeks before planting out
Get squash seeds
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What squash need
Full sun. Rich soil. Space — they spread like they own the place.
Spacing
90cm between plants
These plants need serious room. Plan for at least a square metre each.
Varieties worth growing
Butternut
commonThe one everyone knows and the one that reliably ripens in UK summers. Tan skin, orange flesh, and a sweetness that deepens in storage. Harvest in September, eat through Christmas. The kitchen workhorse of the squash world.
Roasted butternut squash soup
Halve, roast until deeply caramelised, scoop out the flesh, and blitz with stock, a touch of cream, and a grating of nutmeg. The roasting is what makes this better than every other squash soup.
Squash risotto
Roast cubed squash until golden, stir into a classic risotto with sage, butter, and parmesan. The cubes break down slightly, turning the rice a sunset orange.
Crown Prince
uncommonBlue-grey skin, deep orange flesh, and a flavour so rich it barely needs seasoning. Stores for months and actually improves with age. The squash that serious growers get excited about.
Crown prince wedges with sage butter
Cut into thick wedges, roast with olive oil until caramelised at the edges, then drizzle with brown butter infused with crispy sage leaves. The flesh goes almost custard-like.
Uchiki Kuri
uncommonA Japanese onion squash with vivid orange skin and a chestnut-like flavour that's richer and nuttier than butternut. Small enough to use in one go, productive enough to give you a dozen per plant. The skin is thin enough to eat, which saves peeling a squash — always a win.
Japanese pumpkin curry
Cube (skin on), simmer in coconut milk with Thai curry paste, kaffir lime leaves, and a splash of fish sauce. The chestnutty flesh absorbs the spices beautifully. Serve over jasmine rice.
Spaghetti Squash
uncommonCut it open after roasting and the flesh falls apart into spaghetti-like strands that blow children's minds every single time. Not the most flavourful squash on its own, but as a vehicle for sauce, pesto, or butter, it's endlessly entertaining.
Spaghetti squash with pesto
Halve, scoop out seeds, roast cut-side down until tender. Fork out the strands, toss with pesto, parmesan, and pine nuts. Kids think it's magic. Adults agree.
Good companions
When to sow squash
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy squash seeds
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What you'll need for squash
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
Ferric phosphate — pet-safe and organic-approved. Young plants are slug magnets. One night can finish them.
Squash sprawl on the ground. Straw under the fruit stops rot and keeps weeds down. Your back will thank you too.
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for squash.