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When to plant winter squash and pumpkins in Klamath Falls, OR

Plant winter squash and pumpkins in the garden in Klamath Falls Jun 9–30, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors May 12–19.

Moderate Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Klamath Falls's typical last spring frost is June 9. Frost kills winter squash and pumpkins, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 9. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible. The season is a little tight here, so an early variety is the safer choice.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4 feet apart (vines spread)
Planting depth
1 inch deep
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 100 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors May 12–19 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Jun 9–30, 4 feet apart (vines spread). If you plant seeds instead, sow them 1 inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Cut when the rind resists a fingernail and the stem is dry, before a hard frost. Cure in a warm room for two weeks.

Varieties that do well here

  • Delicata
  • Sugar Pie pumpkin
  • Sweet Meat (an Oregon heirloom)

Watch out for

A short or cool season. Delicata and other fast varieties ripen far more reliably here than big pumpkins.

Long season. Harvest before hard frost and cure in a warm spot for storage.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Klamath Falls, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Klamath Falls Airport.

Is it too late to plant winter squash and pumpkins in Klamath Falls?

The spring planting window runs through June 30. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 18.

When should I start winter squash and pumpkins from seed indoors in Klamath Falls?

May 12 to May 19, which is 4 to 3 weeks before the June 9 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Klamath Falls around the same time

Planting dates for winter squash and pumpkins in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Klamath Falls · Winter squash and pumpkins in every city