I have never thought that one should plant any winter squash in August or September. I would plant them now especially since you are in Zone 9. They love heat.

I grew black futsu last year. We planted as with any other winter squashes in april. I think perhaps you are confusing the fact it's called a "winter squash" with the growing season. We live in zone 9 also. It's a yummy winter squash :D

"Winter Squash" is not descriptive of the preferred growing conditions. It means the produce can be stored/will keep in the winter so in the old days, it was a way of having food in the cold months when you couldn't have a garden producing vegetables for harvest every day.

"Winter squash is a warm-season vegetable that can be grown in most of the country. It differs from summer squash in that it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage, when the seeds within have matured fully and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. When ripened to this stage, fruits of most varieties can be stored for use throughout the winter."
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/wsquash1.html

I live outside tucson my futsu is going crazy must have twenty fruits already , been over 100 degrees about thirty five days atleast ,as has been said ,winter squash is hard rined and storable,not like zucs or patty-pan ,ect..Rand