How to Grow Squash Without Irrigation in an Arid Environment

Squash is one of the 3 sisters (Corn Squash and Beans) used in native planting practices. Our favorites varieties are Kabocha and Buttercup since both of these are not stringy and have a smooth sweet creamy flesh. Summer squash varieties like Zuchini, Yellow Crooken Neck, and Patty Pan (scallop) are also delicious and very productive. These varieties of squash require a considerable amount of water and wilt on hottest days of summer. Hopi Grey Squash is grown in Arizona without irrigation.

Hopi Grey Squash 2025

In Spring of 2025 an area of Field 2 did not grow well and we replanted the mostly empty area with corn, sorghum, and 4 hills (2 plants each) of Hopi Grey Squash. Hopi Grey Squash seeds were soaked and planted by digging down to moist soil (about 4 - 5 inches) making a 8 inch wide depression and then covering with 1 - 2 inches of moist soil. This created 2 - 3 inch deep depressions which were not watered after planting. These are more like bowls rather than "hills". One hill of squash was lost due to animal damage, but 3 hills with 2 plants each are doing well. To conserve moisture the surrounding soil was filled in around the plants as they got bigger, leveling out the soil.

Hopi Grey Squash/ June 23 2025

Hopi Grey Squash / June 23 2025

The squash are getting bigger. The pictures above were taken the morning after a brief but heavy thunder shower, the leaves are dirty and the soil settled.

Dryland Squash Update Jun 20 2025

The Hopi Grey Squash look fantasic and are growing rapidly. Reports are Hopi Grey Squash can be stringy with large and so we bought some more varieties to test under dryland conditions next year. Stella Blue has been grown under dryland conditions in Northern California with 40+ inches of annual rainfall, so we'll test that. Hidatsa is a native squash from North Dakota that is reported to have a smoother texture than Hopi Grey Squash. Below is a list of some of the squashes we will test in 2026.

Buttercup Winter Squash
Delicata Winter Squash
Hopi Grey Squash
Hidatsa (North Dakota Native)
Little Gem Winter Squash
North Georgia Candy Roaster
Pueblo Hubbard Squash (Arizona Native)
Red Kuri Squash
Stella Blue Squash (a small Hubbard type)
Tetsukabuto Pumpkin (maxima x moschata hybrid)
Ute Native Winter Squash (Utah Native)

Dryland Squash Update Jul 02 2025

We noticed that when temperatures got up to 106°F 2 of 3 hills were a little wilted. In 2024 we planted corn at the bottom of 1' trenches and when they got bigger we filled in the trench to serve as mulch and reduce moisture loss. These squash were planted in depressions and the depression was already filled in but it seemed reasonable to continued the process and mulch with more soil. Initially we planned to make shallow trenches and bury the vine portions to mulch with soil and encourage additional roots but the vines were too short and stiff. Instead we took surrounding soil and covered the center of the plants and mounded it up over and around the vines leaving the leaves and growing shoots exposed. We'll continue this process as the plants grow.

How To Grow Dryland Hopi Corn

Drought Tolerant Hopi Corn Seeds

Dryland Hopi Corn 2025

Dryland Hopi Corn 2024

Dryland Hopi Corn Experiment

Dryland Sorghum

Winter Wheat 2023