When to plant Watermelon in Zone 5b
In Zone 5b, Watermelon: start seeds indoors around Apr 2–Apr 16; transplant outdoors around May 14–May 21; direct sow outdoors around May 7–May 21. Expect to harvest around Jul 31–Aug 14.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Transplant outdoors | May 14 – May 21 |
| Direct sow outdoors | May 7 – May 21 |
| Harvest | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Harvest | Aug 7 – Aug 14 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
Zone 5b averages a last spring frost around Apr 30 and a first fall frost around Oct 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 5b calendar in the tool →