When to plant watermelons in zone 7a
In zone 7a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 16, start watermelons indoors March 31 to April 14 and plant out May 5 to 19.
The zone 7a schedule for watermelons
- Start seeds indoors
- March 31 to April 14
- Plant out
- May 5 to 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 to 19
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 5
- First harvest, roughly
- July 4 to August 17
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,981 ZIP codes in zone 7a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for watermelons.
Frost risk in zone 7a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 15 to November 2. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 1Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Watermelons are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.
Your dates for watermelons
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant watermelons where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Watermelons in zone 7a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | Mar 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 28 to May 12 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Apr 13 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 |
| Paterson, NJ | Apr 3 | Apr 1 to 15 | May 6 to 20 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Apr 5 | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 |
| Meridian, ID | Apr 24 | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 |
| Stamford, CT | Apr 12 | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 |
| New Haven, CT | Apr 5 | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 |
| Allentown, PA | Apr 20 | Apr 4 to 18 | May 9 to 23 |
How to grow watermelonsAll zonesWatermelons in zone 6bWatermelons in zone 7bAbout zone 7a
Sources
- Growing Watermelon in the Home Garden · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- How to Grow Watermelon in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Watermelon (HGIC factsheet) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension