When to plant Watermelon in Zone 5a
In Zone 5a, Watermelon: 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 Aug 5–Aug 19.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Transplant outdoors | May 19 – May 26 |
| Direct sow outdoors | May 12 – May 26 |
| Harvest | Aug 5 – Aug 19 |
| Harvest | Aug 12 – Aug 19 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
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 →