Watermelon planting calendar
When to plant watermelon — pick your state
Watermelon timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant watermelon?
Start seeds indoors 3–5 weeks before last frost; transplant only after all frost danger is gone and soil is consistently 65–70 °F (18–21 °C) — cold soil causes stunted growth and root rot. Days to harvest range 70–90 from transplant depending on variety (icebox types ~70 days, full-size ~85–90 days). In zones 9–11 direct sowing is practical; in zones 3–5 choose early-maturing varieties (≤80 days) to beat first fall frost. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant watermelon vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives watermelon dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these watermelon planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for watermelon's cold tolerance and days to maturity.