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When to Plant Honeydew in Pend Oreille County, WA

Honeydew melons have smooth, pale green rinds and sweet, light green flesh. They require a long, warm growing season and are slightly more heat-tolerant than cantaloupe.

Pend Oreille County, Washington is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 3,807 feet, Pend Oreille County receives approximately 13.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Honeydew during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Honeydew successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Pend Oreille County, WA (Zone 5b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Pend Oreille County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 23 – Oct 4
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Sep 13 – Oct 25

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,080 gal / 100 sq ft
Honeydew needs ~1,378 GDD — county provides 1,972 GDD Excellent fit

Honeydew Planting Timeline โ€” Pend Oreille County, WA

Honeydew Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jun 14
Harvest August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Oct 4

Plant 1" deep ยท 30" apart ยท Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Transplant Outdoors
June Transplant Outdoors
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

80โ€“110 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

136 days

Growing Tips for Pend Oreille County

Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before transplanting. Plant on raised mounds of rich soil. Harvest when the blossom end gives slightly when pressed and the skin turns creamy yellow.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Honeydew in Pend Oreille County, WA?

Pend Oreille County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Honeydew planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pend Oreille County, WA?

Pend Oreille County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pend Oreille County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Pend Oreille County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.