When to plant watermelon
Short answer
Watermelon is very tender: seeds or transplants can go in 2 or more weeks after your average last frost, once days are warm and the soil has warmed up. Start seeds indoors 2–3 weeks before you plant them outside. Seeds need soil of at least 60 °F to sprout.[1, 2]
Watermelon at a glance
| Frost tolerance | Very tender [1, 2] |
|---|---|
| Plant outside (seeds or transplants) | 2 or more weeks after the average last frost [1, 2] |
| Start seeds indoors | 2–3 weeks before planting out [1] |
| Soil temperature for seeds | At least 60 °F; best around 90 °F [1] |
| Time to harvest | About 85 days [1] |
Spring planting
- Spring, seeds or transplants: Plant 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, once days stay above about 55 °F and the soil is warm. [1, 2]
Example dates for some US cities
Based on each city's main airport weather station: the date with an even chance of frost after it (32 °F). [3] Your own dates can differ: use the ZIP code box above.
| City | Average last frost | Plant outside | Start indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Apr 13 or later | Mar 23 – Mar 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Mar 29 or later | Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | Mar 8 | Mar 22 or later | Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 16 | Apr 30 or later | Apr 9 – Apr 16 |
| Denver, CO | May 5 | May 19 or later | Apr 28 – May 5 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | May 7 or later | Apr 16 – Apr 23 |
| Seattle, WA | Mar 2 | Mar 16 or later | Feb 23 – Mar 2 |
Questions people ask
When should I start watermelon seeds indoors?
2–3 weeks before you plant them outside. Count back from your planting date: 2 or more weeks after your average last frost. [1, 2]
Can watermelon survive frost?
No. Very tender crops don’t tolerate frost or cool spring winds, which is why they wait until 2 or more weeks after the last frost. [1]
What soil temperature do watermelon seeds need?
At least 60 °F; they sprout best around 90 °F. [1]
How long does watermelon take to grow?
About 85 days. [1]
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. The wording is our own. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; NOAA does not endorse this site. Some guides are written for Utah: we use only their general rules, not their local calendar dates.
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720). Colorado State University Extension. Reviewed Sep 2024.
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah. Utah State University Extension. Revised May 2025.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (frost dates). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
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