When to plant Watermelon in Zone 8a
In Zone 8a, Watermelon: start seeds indoors around Feb 22–Mar 8; transplant outdoors around Apr 5–Apr 12; direct sow outdoors around Mar 29–Apr 12. Expect to harvest around Jun 22–Jul 6.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Transplant outdoors | Apr 5 – Apr 12 |
| Direct sow outdoors | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Harvest | Jun 22 – Jul 6 |
| Harvest | Jun 29 – Jul 6 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
Zone 8a averages a last spring frost around Mar 22 and a first fall frost around Nov 18. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 8a calendar in the tool →