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When to plant cantaloupes

Start cantaloupes seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost, plant them out 1 to 3 weeks after the last frost and sow seed outdoors 1 to 3 weeks after the last frost.

Your dates for cantaloupes

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant cantaloupes where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Cantaloupes planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Start indoorsPlant out or sowFirst harvestDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoors
Zone 2aMay 13 to 27Jun 17 to Jul 1Jun 17 to Jul 1
Zone 3aMay 7 to 21Jun 11 to 25Jun 11 to 25
Zone 3bMay 4 to 18Jun 8 to 22Jun 8 to 22
Zone 4aApr 28 to May 12Jun 2 to 16Jun 2 to 16
Zone 4bApr 23 to May 7May 28 to Jun 11May 28 to Jun 11
Zone 5aApr 18 to May 2May 23 to Jun 6May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 5bApr 18 to May 2May 23 to Jun 6May 23 to Jun 6
Zone 6aApr 14 to 28May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2
Zone 6bApr 7 to 21May 12 to 26May 12 to 26
Zone 7aMar 31 to Apr 14May 5 to 19May 5 to 19
Zone 7bMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10
Zone 8aMar 8 to 22Apr 12 to 26Apr 12 to 26
Zone 8bFeb 24 to Mar 10Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14
Zone 9aFeb 7 to 21Mar 14 to 28Mar 14 to 28
Zone 9bFeb 1 to 15Mar 8 to 22Mar 8 to 22

Where frost is rare

Plant in winter to early spring so melons ripen before the hot, rainy summer. Heavy rain while fruit is ripening lowers sugar content and encourages rot.

ZonePlanting months in Extension guides
Zone 9Jan-Mar (Central FL); mid Feb-Jul (Phoenix low desert)
Zone 10Dec-Mar

Based on UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021) Table 1: North FL late Mar-Apr, Central FL Jan-Mar, South FL Dec-Mar. University of Arizona AZ1005 Maricopa County calendar: cantaloupe and honeydew seeded from mid-February through July. zone_9 uses Central FL plus Phoenix and zone_10 uses South FL. No source covers zone 11 specifically. Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.

How to grow cantaloupesYour full planting calendar

Sources