When to Plant Watermelons
Sow watermelons outside 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost.
Watermelons at a glance
- Sow outside
- 2 to 4 weeks after your last frost
- Time to harvest
- 70 to 100 days from sowing
- Harvest lasts
- about 5 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per 9 square feet
- Frost
- Tender: frost kills it
Growing watermelons
Watermelons need the warmest, sunniest spot you have, loose soil and a long run of hot days. Sow once the soil is truly warm, or set out young plants without disturbing their roots. Small icebox varieties ripen sooner and fit small gardens.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Jun 11–25 | Aug 20 – Sep 14Pick a fast variety. |
| Zone 3b | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 9 – Sep 22 |
| Zone 4a | May 26 – Jun 9 | Aug 4 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 4b | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 31 – Sep 13 |
| Zone 5a | May 17–31 | Jul 26 – Sep 8 |
| Zone 5b | May 15–29 | Jul 24 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 6a | May 13–27 | Jul 22 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 6b | May 7–21 | Jul 16 – Aug 29 |
| Zone 7a | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jul 9 – Aug 22 |
| Zone 7b | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 28 – Aug 11 |
| Zone 8a | Apr 12–26 | Jun 21 – Aug 4 |
| Zone 8b | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Jun 9 – Jul 23 |
| Zone 9a | Mar 16–30 | May 25 – Jul 8 |
| Zone 9b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – Jun 9 |
| Zone 10a | Feb 15 – Mar 1Nights are still cool before mid-February, so this starts a little later. | Apr 26 – Jun 9 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so watermelons can go in from late winter, and again in late summer for a fall crop. | |
Good neighbors
Questions about watermelons
How can I help watermelons ripen in a short summer?
Choose a small or early variety, plant in your warmest spot, and warm the soil first with black plastic or a dark mulch. Melons slow right down in cool weather.
Should I water watermelons less near harvest?
Water evenly while the fruit grows, then ease off a little in the last week or two. Very wet soil at the end can make the flesh less sweet.
