How to Grow Squash From Seeds: A Step-by-Step Guide

Plant and Grow Squash from Seeds with This Easy How-To Guide

Squash are one of my favorite vegetables to grow and one of my favorite to start from seeds. Learning how to grow squash from seeds is very easy and great for beginners. Plus, it’s a great way to save money on gardening expenses and groceries!

Rather than pay $5+ for a 6-pack of squash plants or $2+ a pound for fresh squash, you can buy a pack of squash seeds for around $1.50 and have 20-50 plants depending on how many seeds are in the pack. It’s well-worth the effort, and it’s a great way to put food on the table (and have so much that you will be sharing it with your friends and neighbors).

While it is easy to learn how to grow squash from seed, there are a few things you will need to know if you are growing squash for the first time, so we will go over everything you need to know including how to grow squash from seeds, how to plant them, how to water and fertilize them, and whether to start them indoors or outside in the garden.

Let’s start with the basics… and determine how you will grow your squash seeds – indoors or outdoors.

Two Ways to Start Squash Seeds: Indoors & Outdoors

There are two options when it comes to growing squash from seeds: you can plant them straight into the garden and reduce the work, or you can start them indoors near a sunny window or in a greenhouse. Both come with their own benefits.

Indoors – I prefer to start my squash seeds indoors, and then transplant them to the garden once they have their first set of true leaves on them, and after all chances of frost are gone. By starting my squash seeds indoors, I can control the growing environment to include the temperature and moisture level of the soil.

Starting the seeds indoors also lets me get a head start on the growing season because once the last frost has passed, I’ll have young plants that can go straight in the soil and start producing within a few weeks, and they will have plenty of time to produce before the 100-degree temps arrive. (And, it keeps those pesky outdoor rodents from stealing my seeds from the soil!)

Outdoors – Another option for growing squash from seeds is to plant them straight in the garden. This reduces the need to transplant them later, and you don’t have to take up space in your home or have a greenhouse to start them. While it does save a little bit of work,  for me, it’s not enough to keep me from starting them indoors because, I like to get my garden planted and producing as early as possible. When planting seeds directly in the garden, you will need to wait until all chances of frost are gone, or you will risk losing them if there’s a late frost.

Select a Good Quality Squash Seed

The first step to grow squash from seeds it so select good quality seeds. I usually use Burpee or Ferry Morse seeds that I purchase from Walmart. They are inexpensive (usually $1.50 for about 30 seeds), and they are treated to avoid bacterial and fungi rot. You can choose from a huge variety of squash and zucchini seeds that include straight neck, crookneck, organic seeds, and lots of other options. While you can usually buy them in the store, not all varieties are available. The goods ones usually sell out quick, so I’ve started buying mine online at Walmart.

Don’t judge my dirty hands, but you can see the blue coating that is on the seeds -this is completely normal! That blue coating helps prevent fungal issues and rot, which means you will have a better germination rate. It’s totally safe on your skin so there’s no need worry about touching it, but you shouldn’t ingest it. Besides, I don’t know that squash seeds would taste too good.

How to Grow Squash from Seeds by Starting them Indoors

As previously mentioned, I prefer to start my squash seeds indoors because I have more control of the temperatures, and I get an early start on the planting season.

Start with the Soil

The first step in starting your squash seed is to prepare the soil. Sounds pretty simple, right? Just keep in mind that you need to be sure to use a fresh, quality potting soil or compost. I typically use Miracle-Gro Potting Mix for all my planting/potting needs, but feel free to use whatever you find on sale. Just make sure that it a good quality soil and that it’s “fresh”. You don’t want a soil that has been sitting out in the weather for a few years. It will lack nutrients, and it may contain harmful bacteria and fungi that will decrease the germination rate and/or kill young seedlings. (I grab my Miracle Gro Potting Mix from Walmart because it’s usually cheaper there.)

You can use cell packs, biodegradable cups or small pots with drainage holes for planting your seeds. I use cell packs because I plant a large volume of seeds each year, and give them away as well as planting them for our family. Squash are finicky about their roots. They do not like their roots disturbed, so plant them in cell packs, let them grow, and then transplant them. I prefer cell packs over biodegradable cups because they are cheaper, reusable, and they tend to be easier for me to manage since you can buy trays, domes and other “kits” with cell packs. I typically buy my cell packs on Amazon because they are much cheaper there and I can get the size and quantity I need. You can grab 144 cells (12 6-packs) for around $10, sometimes less. That will give you plenty to start your squash seeds and any other vegetables or flowers you want to plant.

DO NOT plant several seeds in a big open tray and then try to transplant them bareroot into the cell packs or directly in the ground later. Either plant them in the ground or use cell packs or biodegradable cups and then transplant, so that you are not removing all the dirt around their roots to transplant them.

Planting Squash Seeds

Using a clean seed tray or pot, fill each cell with potting soil (or a rich compost). Then, use your finger, a popsicle stick, or something similar to create a small hole in each cell. The holes need to be twice the size of the seed, and since squash seeds are pretty big, make your hole about 1/2 inch deep. Next, add seed to each hole and cover with soil.

Water Your Squash Seeds

Now, that they are planted, water thoroughly but, gently! Use a gentle sprayer on the shower or mist setting. If the water flow is too strong, it will make a mess, and it will likely uncover the seeds, so be sure to user a lighter setting on the water wand.

Be Patient & Let them Grow

Place the your trays in a warm area that receives indirect light most of the day. This can be a sunny window, greenhouse, or under a nice tree that gets plenty of sun, but will also provide shade for the hottest part of the day. Squash seedlings need plenty of sun, but not bright scorching sun that will dry them out in a matter of just a few hours. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.

Caring for Your Newly Sprouted Squash Seedlings

Now that your seeds have sprouted, proper care will ensure healthy, thriving plants, and an abundant harvest.

Watering Your Squash Seeds and Seedlings

Continue to water daily (or as needed) to insure the soil is moist but not soggy. Squash don’t like wet feet! They are very susceptible to a variety of fungi which, will cause them to rot and die off. Make sure the soil is moist at all times, but not soggy.

Emerging Squash Seedlings

Squash seeds will germinate and start to emerge in 5-7 days, depending on the temperatures. 95% of them will germinate with in a day or two of each other, but there are always one or two that are a little slow and come up a few days later. This is normal – remember, some of us are late bloomers. When the seedlings first start to emerge, each one will have two leaves that are oval shaped. These are called cotyledon, and are “baby leaves”. The next leaves will be the true squash leaves.

Young squash seedlings are tender and need protection from extreme temperature changes. Be sure to bring them in or protect them during cold temperatures.

Transplanting Your Squash Plants into the Garden

Once your seedlings have put on at least two sets of true leaves and all dangers of frost have passed, you can safely plant them in out the garden. Tiller the soil and add a rich compost or garden soil to the planting area.

Dig a small hole and place two or three squash seedlings in each hole. Plant them so that the soil level from the pot is level with the soil of the garden. If you plant them too deep, the stems will rot and the seedling will die. Water your newly planted seedlings well using a gentle shower setting on your nozzle, and continue to do so daily – or as needed- to insure the soil stays moist but not soggy.

How to Grow Squash from Seeds by Sowing them Outdoors

Sowing Squash Seeds in the Garden

The alternative to starting squash seeds indoors, is to sow them in the garden. By sowing your seeds straight into the garden, you save the step of transplanting, albeit you have to hope and pray that no last minute frost comes your way.

When sowing seeds in the garden, it is best to use the ‘hill’ method. When sowing the seeds into the hill, sow 2-4 seeds per hill, and 1/2 inch deep. This will insure at least one healthy plant per hill. Keep the soil moist at all times, but do not allow the soil to get soggy.

Squash seeds should sprout in 7-10 days. Once your seeds have sprouted, continue to water as needed to keep the soil moist.

Once the squash plants are large enough to determine their health, reduce the number of plants per hill to 1-2 plants each. Simply plucking out the weakest plants will suffice, but it is suggested that the weak plants be cut down to the dirt to prevent disturbing the roots of the healthy plants that will remain.

Caring for Squash Plants

After planting your squash plants into the garden, or if you sowed your seeds directly into the garden, be sure to keep the area weeded so that that the plants don’t have to contend with weeds which can be heavy feeders and choke out squash roots. consider adding mulch around the base of the squash plants or cover the ground with pine straw. This works wonders for both weeds and retaining moisture. Within in one to two weeks you should start seeing squash blooms, which means your squash are on the way!

Fertilizing Squash Seedlings

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What are Your Thoughts on Growing Squash from Seed?

Do you grow squash from seed? Do you prefer to start your squash seeds indoors or sow them straight into the garden? Have questions or need help? Leave a comment below with your thoughts, tips or questions.

Looking for more gardening info and how-tos? Be sure to check out my other gardening tips and ideas!