🍈 When to Plant Cantaloupe

🥬 Vegetable
Warm Season

Similar to watermelon; needs heat

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 May 2 Jun 6 Jun 13
Zone 3B May 15 Apr 17 May 22 May 29
Zone 4A May 8 Apr 10 May 15 May 22
Zone 4B May 1 Apr 3 May 8 May 15
Zone 5A Apr 25 Mar 28 May 2 May 9
Zone 5B Apr 18 Mar 21 Apr 25 May 2
Zone 6A Apr 21 Mar 24 Apr 28 May 5
Zone 6B Apr 10 Mar 13 Apr 17 Apr 24
Zone 7A Apr 5 Mar 8 Apr 12 Apr 19
Zone 7B Mar 28 Feb 28 Apr 4 Apr 11
Zone 8A Mar 20 Feb 20 Mar 27 Apr 3
Zone 8B Mar 12 Feb 12 Mar 19 Mar 26
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 31 Mar 7 Mar 14
Zone 9B Feb 15 Jan 18 Feb 22 Mar 1
Zone 10A Feb 1 Jan 4 Feb 8 Feb 15
Zone 10B Jan 15 Dec 18 Jan 22 Jan 29
Zone 11A Jan 1 Dec 4 Jan 8 Jan 15

Cantaloupes (muskmelons) are heat-loving fruits that reward patience with sweet, aromatic flesh.

Top Growing Tips

  • Plant on raised mounds for better drainage and warmth
  • Use row covers early to protect from cucumber beetles
  • Fruit is ripe when it ‘slips’ from the vine with gentle pressure
  • Reduce watering in the last week before harvest for sweeter fruit
  • Short-season varieties available for northern gardens

Companion Planting

Good companions: corn, sunflowers, lettuce

Avoid planting near: potatoes

Harvest Timeline

75-90 days from seed