When to plant Watermelon in Zone 9b
In Zone 9b, Watermelon: start seeds indoors around Jan 18–Feb 1; transplant outdoors around Mar 1–Mar 8; direct sow outdoors around Feb 22–Mar 8. Expect to harvest around May 18–Jun 1.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Transplant outdoors | Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Direct sow outdoors | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Harvest | May 18 – Jun 1 |
| Harvest | May 25 – Jun 1 |
Tip: Needs heat and a long season. In short-summer zones, start indoors and use black plastic to warm the soil.
Zone 9b averages a last spring frost around Feb 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 15. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 9b calendar in the tool →