What it needs & gives back
↓ Needs
↑ Gives back
Companions
Corn Maize
Part of the 'Three Sisters' planting, corn provides a stalk for squash to climb.
Common bean
Part of the 'Three Sisters' planting, beans provide nitrogen for corn and squash.
Sunflower
Sunflowers provide shade for squash, squash covers the ground to suppress weeds.
Potato
Squash can provide ground cover, suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture for potatoes.
Runner bean
Part of the 'Three Sisters' planting, beans provide nitrogen for squash.
Catnip
Reported to deter squash bugs and other pests from squash.
Tansy
Repels squash bugs and cucumber beetles.
Through the year
Emergence
Seeds germinate when soil temperatures are consistently warm.
Flowering
Flowering begins approximately 6-8 weeks after emergence and continues for an extended period.
Fruiting
Fruit set occurs shortly after flowering, with continuous production throughout the growing season.
Harvest
Fruits are harvested continuously as they reach desired size, typically starting a week after fruit set.
Senescence
Plants decline and die back with the first autumn frosts.
Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).