When to plant Watermelon in Zone 9a
In Zone 9a, Watermelon: start seeds indoors around Jan 31–Feb 14; transplant outdoors around Mar 14–Mar 21; direct sow outdoors around Mar 7–Mar 21. Expect to harvest around May 31–Jun 14.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Transplant outdoors | Mar 14 – Mar 21 |
| Direct sow outdoors | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Harvest | May 31 – Jun 14 |
| Harvest | Jun 7 – Jun 14 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
Zone 9a averages a last spring frost around Feb 28 and a first fall frost around Dec 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 9a calendar in the tool →