Yes. JoeBees is completely free to use, with no account required. Plan a raised bed, ask the AI gardening tutor questions, and print a take-outside sheet at no cost.

How big should my raised garden bed be?

A 4×8 foot raised bed is the most popular starter size. It gives you 32 square feet — enough for a varied salad, herb, and tomato mix — while staying narrow enough to reach the center from either side without stepping into the bed and compacting the soil.

What is square-foot gardening?

Square-foot gardening, popularized by Mel Bartholomew, divides a raised bed into 12-inch squares and assigns each square a set number of plants based on their mature size. JoeBees uses this method to maximize yield per square foot while preventing crowding and root competition.

Does JoeBees support companion planting?

Yes. JoeBees flags antagonistic pairings placed too close together and groups proven companions automatically. The AI layout tool also accounts for spacing, sun exposure, and your USDA hardiness zone.

🎃

Squash

vegetable

At a glance

USDA Zones: 3–10
Sun: Full sun (6+ hrs)
Water: High — consistently moist soil
Soil: loam
pH: neutral
Spacing: 36 in. between plants
SFG footprint: 3×3 ft cell footprint
Days to maturity: ~90 days

Planting & harvest windows

Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.

Activity	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Plant
Harvest

Plant Harvest

Good companions

🌽
Corn
Squash shades the soil around corn, conserving moisture and smothering weeds (Three Sisters).
🫘
Bush Bean
Sprawling squash leaves shade soil and deter raccoons; beans feed nitrogen back into the bed.
🌼
Marigold
Marigolds deter squash bugs and root-knot nematodes.
🌺
Nasturtium

Keep apart from

🥔
Potato
Both attract similar fungal blights, and squash sprawl shades developing tubers.

Recommended varieties

Waltham Butternut
105 daysseed
Sweet, nutty winter squash. Stores for months.
Yellow Crookneck
50 daysboth
Classic summer squash — pick young and tender.
Table Queen Acorn
85 daysseed
Sweet acorn squash perfect for baking.

Add Squash to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.

Open the planner →

← All plants Full companion chart →