Spring Planting

• Summer squash grows when the weather is warm, with plantings in early spring. Zucchini, patty pan squash, scallop squash and constricted neck varieties are belong to the warm-season group. These squash should be planted after the last average frost date in your area, when the ground is warm enough to till. According to University of Illinois, you can continue squash plantings through mid-summer.
  
  

Fall Plantings

• Most vining squashes, including gourds, pumpkins and butternut squash, are cool-season vegetables, and grow best with a late-summer planting. You can plant these types of squash in September or October to take advantage of the summer-warmed soil during seed germination and plant establishment.
  
  

Planting Needs

• All squash plants require similar growing conditions. Your growing site should be amended with a mixture of quick-draining soil and rich organic compost. It should receive full sun--at least six to eight hours a day. Winter varieties of squash should be planted 4 to 5 feet apart, and summer varieties 24 to 36 inches apart.
  
  

Containers

• Squash should be planted in containers with diameters of at least 12 inches, according to the Ohio State Extension, and the plants may need staking. For direct seeding, plant five or six seeds, then thin to one plant per container. Like their garden counterparts, squash plants in containers require full sun, but may need more frequent watering.