Watermelon Planting Guide

Quick Facts

Sunlight ☀️ Full Sun

Water Needs 💧💧💧 High

Spacing 72 inches apart

Planting Depth 1.0 inch

Min Soil Temp 70°F

Germination 4–12 days

Days to Maturity 70–90 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 19	Jun 7	—	Aug 24	Sep 22
Zone 5	Apr 9	May 28	—	Aug 14	Oct 2
Zone 6	Mar 25	May 13	—	Jul 30	Sep 18
Zone 7	Mar 15	May 3	—	Jul 20	Sep 8
Zone 8	Feb 27	Apr 17	—	Jul 4	Aug 23
Zone 9	Feb 7	Mar 28	—	Jun 14	Aug 3
Zone 10	Jan 20	Mar 10	—	May 27	Jul 16
Zone 11	Dec 25	Feb 12	—	May 1	Jun 20

What you'll need — Your Zone

🛒 Watermelon — Seeds & Supplies

🌱 Watermelon 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.