WhenToPlantGuide

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When to plant watermelon

Plant watermelon 2–4 weeks after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil is at least 70°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid May to early June), zone 7a (late April to mid May) and zone 9a (mid March to late March).

Watermelon planting dates by zone

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2a Start indoors Apr 22 – Apr 29 Plant Jun 3 – Jun 17 3b Start indoors Apr 19 – Apr 26 Plant May 31 – Jun 14 4a Start indoors Apr 17 – Apr 24 Plant May 29 – Jun 12 4b Start indoors Apr 15 – Apr 22 Plant May 27 – Jun 10 5a Start indoors Apr 13 – Apr 20 Plant May 25 – Jun 8 5b Start indoors Apr 7 – Apr 14 Plant May 19 – Jun 2 6a Start indoors Apr 2 – Apr 9 Plant May 14 – May 28 6b Start indoors Mar 27 – Apr 3 Plant May 8 – May 22 7a Start indoors Mar 18 – Mar 25 Plant Apr 29 – May 13 7b Start indoors Mar 9 – Mar 16 Plant Apr 20 – May 4 8a Start indoors Feb 27 – Mar 6 Plant Apr 10 – Apr 24 8b Start indoors Feb 16 – Feb 23 Plant Mar 30 – Apr 13 9a Start indoors Feb 2 – Feb 9 Plant Mar 16 – Mar 30 9b Start indoors Jan 7 – Jan 14 Plant Feb 18 – Mar 4 10a Start indoors Dec 11 – Dec 18 Plant Jan 22 – Feb 5
■ spring planting · ■ start seeds indoors. Zones from the USDA 2023 map; dates from NOAA frost normals for the weather stations in each zone.
ZonePlant outdoorswatermelon ready from
4a May 29 – Jun 12 Aug 14
4b May 27 – Jun 10 Aug 12
5a May 25 – Jun 8 Aug 10
5b May 19 – Jun 2 Aug 4
6a May 14 – May 28 Jul 30
6b May 8 – May 22 Jul 24
7a Apr 29 – May 13 Jul 15
7b Apr 20 – May 4 Jul 6
8a Apr 10 – Apr 24 Jun 26
8b Mar 30 – Apr 13 Jun 15
9a Mar 16 – Mar 30 Jun 1
9b Feb 18 – Mar 4 May 6

How to plant watermelon

Plant asseeds outdoors or transplants
Soil temperature70°F or warmer
Depth1 in
SpacingHills 6 ft apart
LightFull sun
Time to harvest70–100 days
Start indoors3–4 weeks before the last frost (zone 6a: Apr 2 – Apr 9; zone 8a: Feb 27 – Mar 6)

Watermelon needs a long, hot season; in the North choose short-season varieties or start indoors 3–4 weeks early.

Handle transplants gently: melon roots do not like being disturbed.

Cut back watering as fruit ripens for sweeter melons.

When to harvest watermelon

Ripe when the tendril nearest the fruit dries and the ground spot turns from white to creamy yellow.

Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.

More vegetables to plant

Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Green beans