When to plant Cantaloupe
Ripe when it slips easily from the vine and smells sweet at the stem end.
TypeFruits
Frost toleranceTender (no frost)
Days to maturity~80
When to plant Cantaloupe by USDA zone
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors May 18–Jun 1 Transplant outdoors Jun 29–Jul 6 Direct sow outdoors Jun 22–Jul 6 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors May 13–May 27 Transplant outdoors Jun 24–Jul 1 Direct sow outdoors Jun 17–Jul 1 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jun 26 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jun 26 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 20 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 20 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 27–May 11 Transplant outdoors Jun 8–Jun 15 Direct sow outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 22–May 6 Transplant outdoors Jun 3–Jun 10 Direct sow outdoors May 27–Jun 10 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 29–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Apr 12–Apr 26 Transplant outdoors May 24–May 31 Direct sow outdoors May 17–May 31 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 19–May 26 Direct sow outdoors May 12–May 26 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 21 Direct sow outdoors May 7–May 21 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 12 Direct sow outdoors Apr 28–May 12 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 6 Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Transplant outdoors Jan 29–Feb 5 Direct sow outdoors Jan 22–Feb 5 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |