Cantaloupe Planting Guide

Quick Facts

Sunlight ☀️ Full Sun

Water Needs 💧💧 Moderate

Spacing 36 inches apart

Planting Depth 1.0 inch

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Germination 4–10 days

Days to Maturity 75–90 days

Frost Tolerance No frost tolerance

Soil pH 6.0–6.8

Difficulty Moderate

Planting Schedule by Zone

Select your USDA zone below for a detailed guide with tips specific to your region.

Zone 4 Zone 4a Zone 4b Zone 5 Zone 5a Zone 5b Zone 6 Zone 6a Zone 6b Zone 7 Zone 7a Zone 7b Zone 8 Zone 8a Zone 8b Zone 9 Zone 9a Zone 9b Zone 10 Zone 10a Zone 10b Zone 11 Zone 11a Zone 11b

Zone	Start Indoors	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest Start	Harvest End
Zone 4	Apr 12	May 31	—	Aug 21	Sep 22
Zone 5	Apr 2	May 21	—	Aug 11	Sep 25
Zone 6	Mar 18	May 6	—	Jul 27	Sep 10
Zone 7	Mar 8	Apr 26	—	Jul 17	Aug 31
Zone 8	Feb 20	Apr 10	—	Jul 1	Aug 15
Zone 9	Jan 31	Mar 21	—	Jun 11	Jul 26
Zone 10	Jan 13	Mar 3	—	May 24	Jul 8
Zone 11	Dec 18	Feb 5	—	Apr 28	Jun 12

What you'll need — Your Zone

🛒 Cantaloupe — Seeds & Supplies

🌱 Cantaloupe Seeds

Search for these at your local garden center or nursery.

Companion Planting

Companion planting improves growth, deters pests, and makes better use of garden space.

✓ Good Companions

Corn Sunflower

✗ Avoid Nearby

Potato

📚 Data Sources

Frost dates: NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020, National Centers for Environmental Information.
Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Agricultural Research Service.
Growing requirements: Cooperative Extension Services — NC State, Penn State, University of Florida IFAS.
Companion planting: Cornell University Cooperative Extension.
Data compiled from public agricultural sources. Always verify with your local extension office for micro-climate adjustments.