When to plant watermelons in zone 7b
In zone 7b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 5, start watermelons indoors March 22 to April 5 and plant out April 26 to May 10.
The zone 7b schedule for watermelons
- Start seeds indoors
- March 22 to April 5
- Plant out
- April 26 to May 10
- Sow outdoors
- April 26 to May 10
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- April 26
- First harvest, roughly
- June 25 to August 8
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,025 ZIP codes in zone 7b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for watermelons.
Frost risk in zone 7b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 30 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 17 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 24 to November 18. For a typical place in the zone:
- March 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 5Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- April 21Safe: 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 7b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Mar 30 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Nashville-Davidson, TN | Mar 31 | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | Apr 4 | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 |
| Albuquerque, NM | Apr 6 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 29 to May 13 |
| Tulsa, OK | Mar 31 | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 |
| Newark, NJ | Apr 2 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 5 to 19 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Apr 2 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 5 to 19 |
| Reno, NV | Apr 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | May 15 to 29 |
| Lubbock, TX | Apr 4 | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 11 to 25 |
| Richmond, VA | Apr 3 | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 21 to May 5 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 8 | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 |
How to grow watermelonsAll zonesWatermelons in zone 7aWatermelons in zone 8aAbout zone 7b
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