Spaghetti Squash
Cucurbita pepo 'Spaghetti'
vegetableSpaghetti squash is a winter squash whose cooked flesh pulls apart into tender, pasta-like strands, mild in flavor and low in calories, which makes it a popular noodle substitute. The vigorous vines produce oblong, hard-shelled, golden-yellow fruit that cure and store for months.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
36-48 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting and at vining
Fertilizer
Balanced early, higher potassium at fruiting
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow after the last frost once the soil is consistently above 60F, in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Give the long vines plenty of room, water deeply and evenly, and mulch to hold moisture; winter squash needs a long, warm season to mature fully.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 28
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Nasturtium: Trap crop for squash bugs and aphids
- Borage: Draws pollinators to set fruit
- Beans: Fix nitrogen in a three-sisters bed
- Radishes: May help deter squash beetles
❌ Keep away from
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Crush egg clusters under leaves; row cover until flowering
Mound soil over the base of the stem and watch for the clearwing moth in early summer
Space for airflow, water at the base, and pick resistant varieties
🌾 Harvest & storage
Harvest when the rind turns deep golden-yellow and is hard enough to resist a fingernail and the stem is dry and corky, cutting the fruit with a few inches of stem attached. Cure at 80 to 85F for about 10 days to harden the rind, then store at 50 to 60F, where it keeps for one to three months.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Spaghetti squash is low in calories and carbohydrates for a winter squash and provides fiber along with vitamin C and beta-carotene, an antioxidant the body converts to vitamin A, plus a little potassium.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.