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How to Grow Table King Squash

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Table King Squash

Cucurbita pepo

vegetable

Table King is a compact acorn squash variety bred for home gardens, producing dark green, ribbed fruits weighing 1-2 pounds. It's a determinate bush variety that takes up less space than traditional sprawling squash plants while still yielding abundant harvests. The sweet, orange flesh is ideal for roasting and makes individual-sized servings.

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Example Table King Squash timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Table King Squash

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Table King Squash

    Around Jun 6

    ≈ 50 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Table King Squash dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade but produces better with full sun
💧
Water: Water deeply and consistently, providing 1-1.5 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base to avoid wetting foliage, which can encourage disease. Reduce watering slightly as plants mature.
📏
Spacing: 24-36 inches apart; compact bush habit allows closer spacing than rambling squash varieties inches
📅
Days to maturity: 50-65 days from planting to harvest-ready fruit
🌱
Planting depth: 1 inch for seeds; plant seeds directly in ground after last frost or start indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.5
Amendments:
Compost Well-rotted manure Aged leaf mold Peat moss or coco coir

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-10; prefers zones 5-9 for optimal growth

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Germination & Seedling

10-14 days

Seeds sprout within 7-10 days. Seedlings develop true leaves and form a sturdy stem. Plant has 2-3 sets of leaves.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide 12-16 hours of bright light daily if indoors. Thin to strongest seedling if planting multiple seeds per hill.

2

Vegetative Growth

20-30 days

Bush plant expands with vining growth contained to compact mound (2-3 feet diameter). Large lobed leaves develop and multiply rapidly. Root system deepens and spreads.

Mulch around plants with 2-3 inches of straw or wood chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Begin fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer once true leaves appear. Monitor for pests closely.

3

Flowering

10-15 days

Large yellow flowers appear at leaf axils. Male flowers appear first, followed by female flowers with tiny immature squash at base. Flowers open in early morning.

Ensure adequate water during flowering. Hand-pollinate if bee activity is low by transferring pollen from male to female flowers with small brush. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes foliage over fruit.

4

Fruit Development

25-35 days

Fertilized female flowers develop into small green squash. Fruits enlarge rapidly, developing characteristic ribbed acorn shape and deepening to dark green color. Skin hardens.

Water regularly and consistently; irregular watering causes fruit cracking and poor shape. Thin to 3-4 fruits per plant for larger, better-quality squash. Remove damaged or misshapen fruits early.

5

Maturation & Harvest

5-7 days before harvest

Fruits reach 4-5 inches in diameter with deep green color and hard skin that resists thumbnail puncture. Vine begins to yellow and slow growth. Fruits are ready to harvest.

Stop watering 7-10 days before harvest to harden skins and improve storage. Harvest when skin color is uniformly dark green and skin is hard. Leave 1-2 inches of stem attached.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Corn Beans Pumpkins Marigold Nasturtium Radish Borage Tansy

Avoid planting near:

Other squash varieties (cross-pollination concerns) Aromatic herbs (excessive mint, fennel) Potatoes Brassicas (in close proximity)

Common Pests

  • Wrap base of stems with aluminum foil or row covers in early summer. Plant successive crops 2 weeks apart. Remove infested stems and inject Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) into affected areas. Check plants weekly for damage.

  • Hand-pick adults and egg clusters from undersides of leaves. Use reflective mulch or kaolin clay spray. Plant trap crops of blue Hubbard squash nearby. Apply insecticidal soap for nymphs.

  • Use row covers over young plants. Deploy sticky traps. Hand-pick beetles. Apply neem oil or spinosad spray. Encourage beneficial predators like ground beetles.

  • Ensure good air circulation through pruning lower leaves. Apply sulfur dust or baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon water). Water at soil level to avoid wetting foliage. Plant resistant varieties.

  • Plant in well-draining soil with good air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Remove infected leaves promptly. Apply copper fungicide or fixed-copper spray in early stages.

Uses

🍳

Roasted & Baked

Culinary

Table King's individual serving size (1-2 pounds) makes it ideal for halving and roasting with butter and herbs. The sweet, creamy orange flesh works beautifully in soups, side dishes, and as a base for mashed or pureed preparations. [source]

🍳

Seed Extraction

Culinary

The abundant seeds can be cleaned, dried, and roasted as a nutritious snack rich in magnesium and zinc, or saved for next season's planting. [source]

🏠

Storage & Preservation

Household

Table King squash stores exceptionally well when properly cured, remaining viable for 2-3 months in cool conditions. This makes it valuable for fall and winter use. [source]

🌿

Nutritional Benefit

Nutritional

Rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and dietary fiber, Table King squash provides significant nutritional value with high bioavailability of carotenoids when cooked. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

The abundant bright yellow flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity during mid to late summer. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest Table King squash 50-65 days after planting when skin is hard and dark green, resistant to thumbnail puncture. Cut stem with knife leaving 1-2 inches attached; avoid bruising. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. For storage, cure squash in warm (70-75°F) location for 2 weeks, then store in cool (50-55°F), dry place; properly cured fruits keep 2-3 months.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Table King was specifically bred to be a bush-type acorn squash that fits in smaller home gardens, released around the 1960s. Its compact 2-3 foot spread makes it ideal for container gardening and space-limited yards.
  • 🌱 Each plant typically produces 4-8 full-sized fruits per season despite its compact size, making it more productive per square foot than traditional sprawling squash varieties.
  • 🌱 The name 'acorn' comes from the fruit's resemblance to an acorn, and Table King's individual fruit size means you can literally cook and serve one squash per person, cutting it in half lengthwise.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch Partial Shade True Leaves
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