When to Plant Squash in Porter, Minnesota (56280)

Location

Porter, Minnesota

ZIP Code

56280

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Sunday, May 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Direct Sow Outdoors

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, May 10, 2026 · Zone 5a

Pro tip: Sow Squash directly outdoors 6 weeks before your last frost date.

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Cucurbita moschata

Days to Maturity 90 days

Mature Height 24-36"

Spread 72"

Type Vine

Fruit Size Large (2-5 lbs)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1 inch/week)

↔️

Spacing

48" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

1" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Squash in Porter?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, March 29, 2026.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🤝 Good Companions

CornBeanRadishMarigold

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

Potato

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Squash

See which plants help Squash thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Common Squash Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Butternut

winter 110d

Tan, pear-shaped winter squash with sweet, orange flesh; the most popular for soups.

Acorn

winter 80d

Small, dark green ribbed squash with dense, mild flesh; ideal for stuffing and baking halves.

Delicata

winter 100d

Striped cream-and-green oblong squash with very sweet, fine-grained flesh; edible skin.

Spaghetti Squash

winter 100d

Pale yellow squash whose cooked flesh pulls into spaghetti-like strands; low-carb pasta substitute.

Hubbard

winter 100d

Large, knobby, blue-gray heirloom winter squash with sweet, dense orange flesh.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Allow squash to fully mature and cure for 1 month before extracting seeds.

Processing

Scoop seeds, wash off flesh, dry flat for 2 weeks.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Squash cross within the same species. Hand-pollinate early in the morning for guaranteed purity.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 2 plants of Squash. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Squash in Porter, Minnesota? +

In Porter (Zone 5a), direct sow Squash outdoors around Sunday, March 29, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Porter, Minnesota? +

The average last spring frost date for Porter, Minnesota (ZIP 56280) is around Sunday, May 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 5a.

How long does Squash take to grow? +

Squash typically matures in about 90 days from direct sowing. In Porter, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, March 29, 2026 plus 90 days.

Should I start Squash indoors or direct sow in Minnesota? +

Squash does best when direct sown outdoors. In Porter, sow directly around Sunday, March 29, 2026.

📚 More Squash Planting Guides

🗺️

Squash in Minnesota

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 5a Squash Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Porter

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Squash in Zone 5a

Squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a popular garden vegetable. In Porter, Minnesota, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a, you should direct sow seeds around Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, May 10, 2026. Squash grows well when direct sown, as it doesn't transplant well or germinates quickly outdoors.