When to plant Watermelon in Zone 12a
In Zone 12a, Watermelon: start seeds indoors around Dec 4–Dec 18; transplant outdoors around Jan 15–Jan 22; direct sow outdoors around Jan 8–Jan 22. Expect to harvest around Apr 3–Apr 17.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant outdoors | Jan 15 – Jan 22 |
| Direct sow outdoors | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Harvest | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Harvest | Apr 10 – Apr 17 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
Zone 12a averages a last spring frost around Jan 1 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 12a calendar in the tool →