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Winter Squash

Also known as

Butternut Pumpkin, Butternut Pumpkin, Winter squash, Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata Duchesne and Butternut squash

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cucurbita moschata

Genus

Cucurbita

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Order

Cucurbitales

How to care for Winter Squash

💦 Water

How often to water your Winter Squash

Winter Squash needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Butternut Pumpkin in your home

Winter Squash love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Winter Squash does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Winter Squash in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Winter Squash

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Winter Squash: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Winter Squash after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #ButternutPumpkin

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Winter Squash is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Butternut Pumpkin →

Benefits of Growing Butternut Pumpkin →

Common Butternut Pumpkin Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Butternut Pumpkin →

💦 Water Needs

Winter Squash prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Butternut Pumpkin Water Frequency →

Butternut Pumpkin Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Winter Squash requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Butternut Pumpkin Light Requirements →

Butternut Pumpkin Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Winter Squash is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Butternut Pumpkin Edible? →

Butternut Pumpkin Toxicity to Cats →

Butternut Pumpkin Toxicity to Dogs →

Butternut Pumpkin Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Winter Squash doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Butternut Pumpkin Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Winter Squash does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Butternut Pumpkin →

Best Pots for Butternut Pumpkin →

When and How to Successfully Repot Butternut Pumpkin →

What Are Healthy Butternut Pumpkin Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Winter Squash should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Butternut Pumpkin →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Winter Squash grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Butternut Pumpkin Lifecycle →

Butternut Pumpkin Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Butternut Pumpkin →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Winter Squash can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Butternut Pumpkin Temperature Tolerance →

Butternut Pumpkin Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Butternut Pumpkin →

When to Plant Butternut Pumpkin →

How to Plant Butternut Pumpkin →

Where to Plant Butternut Pumpkin →

Winter Care for Butternut Pumpkin →

Best Companion Plants for Butternut Pumpkin →

Is Butternut Pumpkin a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Winter Squash can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Butternut Pumpkin →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Winter Squash, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.