When to sow Winter squash (butternut) in the UK
Winter squash (butternut) is frost-tender, so the right week to sow it depends on where in the UK you garden.
Sowing and harvest dates by region
Winter squash (butternut) is frost-tender, so its timings shift across the UK. Plot works them out from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Sow indoors | Sow outdoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | mid March to late March | mid April to early May | mid April to early May | early August to late August |
| South Coast and Channel | late March to early April | late April to early May | late April to early May | early August to early September |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | mid March to late March | mid April to early May | mid April to early May | early August to late August |
| South East and Home Counties | early April to mid April | early May to late May | early May to late May | late August to mid September |
| East Anglia | mid April to late April | mid May to late May | mid May to late May | late August to late September |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | mid April to early May | late May to early June | late May to early June | early September to early October |
| Wales and West Coast | early April to mid April | early May to late May | early May to late May | late August to mid September |
| Northern England | late April to early May | late May to mid June | late May to mid June | mid September to early October |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | early May to mid May | early June to mid June | early June to mid June | mid September to mid October |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | late May to early June | late June to mid July | late June to mid July | early October to early November |
| Northern Ireland | mid April to late April | mid May to late May | mid May to late May | late August to late September |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early March to late March | mid April to late April | mid April to late April | late July to late August |
Growing notes
Winter squashes such as butternut are grown on to full maturity and must be cut before the first frosts. Cure them in the sun for a week or two, then store spaced apart at 10-15C, where they keep for three months or more.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 150 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 150 cm
- Plants per m²
- 1
- Days to maturity
- 120 days
- Yield per plant
- 5 kg
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- Yes
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 45 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 40 cm
- Balcony rating
- 1 out of 5
What usually goes wrong
- powdery mildew
- grey mould
- slugs
Companion planting
Grows well near
Keep away from
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for winter squash (butternut).