How far apart should I plant Butternut squash?

About 1 m (3.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).

Does Butternut squash need full sun?

Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Butternut squash need?

Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.

How cold-hardy is Butternut squash?

It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.

When does Butternut squash flower?

About 6–9 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks.

Is Butternut squash poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not toxic; bitter fruit from cross-pollination with ornamental gourds can contain cucurbitacins and should be discarded.

What grows well with Butternut squash?

There is no well-documented companion pairing for Butternut squash. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).

Butternut squash Cucurbita moschata

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is an annual vegetable in the Cucurbitaceae family, native to Mesoamerica (southern Mexico and Central America). It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 1 m (3.3 ft) apart.

Plan Butternut squash in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Butternut squash at a glance

Type	Annual vegetable
Family	Cucurbitaceae
Mature height	30–60 cm (12–24 in)
Mature spread	3–5 m (10–16 ft)
Spacing	1 m (3.3 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day
Water	Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none
Soil pH	6–7.5
Cold hardiness	About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10)
Heat stress	Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F)
Flowering	about 6–9 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks
Days to maturity	About 105 days from planting
Wind tolerance	Low
Pollinator value	High
Edible	Yes: mature fruit, seeds, young shoots, flowers
Native to	Mesoamerica (southern Mexico and Central America)
Common in gardens of	🇺🇸 United States, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇧🇷 Brazil

Is Butternut squash toxic?

People: not known to be toxic
Cats: not known to be toxic
Dogs: not known to be toxic

Not toxic; bitter fruit from cross-pollination with ornamental gourds can contain cucurbitacins and should be discarded.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Butternut squash

No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.

Keep apart or take care

caution With Cucurbits (squash family): Cucurbits share powdery mildew, cucumber beetles and mosaic viruses; good airflow and spacing reduce spread. Evidence C

Shared pests and diseases

Powdery mildew: Powdery mildew spreads between cucurbits in warm, dry weather. Evidence C

See Butternut squash in a botanical garden

It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:

Desert Botanical Garden (10 plants)

Questions about Butternut squash

How far apart should I plant Butternut squash?: About 1 m (3.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
Does Butternut squash need full sun?: Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Butternut squash need?: Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
How cold-hardy is Butternut squash?: It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
When does Butternut squash flower?: About 6–9 weeks after planting, for 6–10 weeks.
Is Butternut squash poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not toxic; bitter fruit from cross-pollination with ornamental gourds can contain cucurbitacins and should be discarded.
What grows well with Butternut squash?: There is no well-documented companion pairing for Butternut squash. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).

University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida

Notes and assumptions

Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Needs bees to carry pollen between separate male and female flowers.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Cucumber Cucumis sativus
Zucchini (courgette) Cucurbita pepo
Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima / C. pepo
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Muskmelon (cantaloupe) Cucumis melo
Bitter melon Momordica charantia
Luffa (sponge gourd) Luffa aegyptiaca
Bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria