When to plant Cantaloupe in Zone 12b
In Zone 12b, Cantaloupe: 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 Mar 29–Apr 12.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Dec 4 – Dec 18 |
| Transplant outdoors | Jan 15 – Jan 22 |
| Direct sow outdoors | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Harvest | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Harvest | Apr 5 – Apr 12 |
Tip: Ripe when it slips easily from the vine and smells sweet at the stem end.
Zone 12b 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 12b calendar in the tool →