When to plant Cantaloupe in Zone 5a
In Zone 5a, Cantaloupe: start seeds indoors around Apr 7–Apr 21; transplant outdoors around May 19–May 26; direct sow outdoors around May 12–May 26. Expect to harvest around Jul 31–Aug 14.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Transplant outdoors | May 19 – May 26 |
| Direct sow outdoors | May 12 – May 26 |
| Harvest | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Harvest | Aug 7 – Aug 14 |
Tip: Ripe when it slips easily from the vine and smells sweet at the stem end.
Zone 5a averages a last spring frost around May 5 and a first fall frost around Oct 1. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 5a calendar in the tool →