When to Plant Watermelons and melons

Melons need heat. In short-season areas, start them indoors and use black plastic mulch to warm the soil.

Watermelons and melons planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsSow or transplant outside
Mesa, AZJan 4 – Jan 11Feb 15 – Mar 1
Phoenix, AZDec 11 – Dec 18Jan 22 – Feb 5
Tucson, AZJan 8 – Jan 15Feb 19 – Mar 5
Anaheim, CADec 8 – Dec 15Jan 19 – Feb 2
Bakersfield, CAJan 3 – Jan 10Feb 14 – Feb 28
Fresno, CADec 17 – Dec 24Jan 28 – Feb 11
Irvine, CADec 8 – Dec 15Jan 19 – Feb 2
Long Beach, CADec 12 – Dec 19Jan 23 – Feb 6
Los Angeles, CADec 5 – Dec 12Jan 16 – Jan 30
Oakland, CADec 10 – Dec 17Jan 21 – Feb 4
Riverside, CADec 12 – Dec 19Jan 23 – Feb 6
Sacramento, CADec 15 – Dec 22Jan 26 – Feb 9
San Diego, CADec 9 – Dec 16Jan 20 – Feb 3
San Francisco, CADec 2 – Dec 9Jan 13 – Jan 27
San Jose, CADec 5 – Dec 12Jan 16 – Jan 30
Stockton, CAJan 8 – Jan 15Feb 19 – Mar 5
Aurora, COApr 9 – Apr 16May 21 – Jun 4
Colorado Springs, COApr 5 – Apr 12May 17 – May 31
Denver, COApr 6 – Apr 13May 18 – Jun 1
Washington, DCMar 1 – Mar 8Apr 12 – Apr 26
Jacksonville, FLJan 4 – Jan 11Feb 15 – Mar 1
Orlando, FLDec 28 – Jan 4Feb 8 – Feb 22
Tampa, FLDec 23 – Dec 30Feb 3 – Feb 17
Atlanta, GAFeb 24 – Mar 3Apr 7 – Apr 21
Chicago, ILMar 13 – Mar 20Apr 24 – May 8
Indianapolis city, INMar 23 – Mar 30May 4 – May 18
Wichita, KSMar 14 – Mar 21Apr 25 – May 9
Lexington-Fayette, KYMar 16 – Mar 23Apr 27 – May 11
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYMar 9 – Mar 16Apr 20 – May 4
New Orleans, LADec 25 – Jan 1Feb 5 – Feb 19
Boston, MAMar 7 – Mar 14Apr 18 – May 2
Baltimore, MDFeb 24 – Mar 3Apr 7 – Apr 21
Detroit, MIMar 30 – Apr 6May 11 – May 25
Minneapolis, MNMar 26 – Apr 2May 7 – May 21
Kansas City, MOMar 7 – Mar 14Apr 18 – May 2
Charlotte, NCMar 2 – Mar 9Apr 13 – Apr 27
Raleigh, NCFeb 28 – Mar 7Apr 11 – Apr 25
Omaha, NEMar 19 – Mar 26Apr 30 – May 14
Albuquerque, NMMar 26 – Apr 2May 7 – May 21
Henderson, NVDec 23 – Dec 30Feb 3 – Feb 17
Las Vegas, NVDec 27 – Jan 3Feb 7 – Feb 21
New York, NYMar 4 – Mar 11Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cleveland, OHMar 11 – Mar 18Apr 22 – May 6
Columbus, OHMar 23 – Mar 30May 4 – May 18
Oklahoma City, OKMar 7 – Mar 14Apr 18 – May 2
Tulsa, OKMar 3 – Mar 10Apr 14 – Apr 28
Portland, ORJan 28 – Feb 4Mar 11 – Mar 25
Philadelphia, PAMar 2 – Mar 9Apr 13 – Apr 27
Memphis, TNFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 30 – Apr 13
Nashville-Davidson, TNMar 4 – Mar 11Apr 15 – Apr 29
Arlington, TXFeb 9 – Feb 16Mar 23 – Apr 6
Austin, TXJan 23 – Jan 30Mar 6 – Mar 20
Dallas, TXFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 16 – Mar 30
El Paso, TXFeb 2 – Feb 9Mar 16 – Mar 30
Fort Worth, TXFeb 5 – Feb 12Mar 19 – Apr 2
Houston, TXJan 5 – Jan 12Feb 16 – Mar 2
San Antonio, TXJan 28 – Feb 4Mar 11 – Mar 25
Virginia Beach, VAMar 1 – Mar 8Apr 12 – Apr 26
Seattle, WAFeb 8 – Feb 15Mar 22 – Apr 5
Milwaukee, WIMar 29 – Apr 5May 10 – May 24

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

TomatoesPeppersEggplantBasilCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashGreen beansSweet cornLettuceSpinachPeasKaleBroccoliCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic