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When to plant watermelons in zone 8b

In zone 8b, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 17, start watermelons indoors February 24 to March 10 and plant out March 31 to April 14.

The zone 8b schedule for watermelons

Start seeds indoors
February 24 to March 10
Plant out
March 31 to April 14
Sow outdoors
March 31 to April 14
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 31
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
April 6
First harvest, roughly
May 30 to July 13

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,613 ZIP codes in zone 8b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for watermelons.

Frost risk in zone 8b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 3 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 2 to November 24. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 25Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 6Safe: 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.

Enter your ZIP code

Watermelons in zone 8b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
San Antonio, TXFeb 26Jan 29 to Feb 12Mar 5 to 19
Dallas, TXMar 2Feb 10 to 24Mar 17 to 31
Fort Worth, TXMar 11Feb 19 to Mar 5Mar 26 to Apr 9
El Paso, TXMar 2Feb 14 to 28Mar 21 to Apr 4
Las Vegas, NVJan 20Feb 6 to 20Mar 13 to 27
Virginia Beach, VAMar 29Mar 18 to Apr 1Apr 22 to May 6
Arlington, TXMar 9Feb 13 to 27Mar 20 to Apr 3
Plano, TXMar 7Feb 15 to Mar 1Mar 22 to Apr 5
Irving, TXMar 2Feb 10 to 24Mar 17 to 31
Garland, TXMar 7Feb 15 to Mar 1Mar 22 to Apr 5
Frisco, TXMar 18Feb 23 to Mar 9Mar 30 to Apr 13
McKinney, TXMar 18Feb 23 to Mar 9Mar 30 to Apr 13

How to grow watermelonsAll zonesWatermelons in zone 8aWatermelons in zone 9aAbout zone 8b

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