Watermelon Planting Guide

Watermelon is a sprawling vine crop that produces sweet, juicy fruits in hot weather. Varieties range from personal-sized icebox types to 50-pound giants.

Citrullus lanatus · Vegetable · Cucurbitaceae family · 70–100 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Watermelon Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Watermelon?

Zone Compatibility for Watermelon Zones 4a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 4a	Mar 25	May 20	May 27	Aug 5 – Sep 23
Zone 4b	Mar 20	May 15	May 22	Jul 31 – Sep 18
Zone 5a	Mar 21	May 2	May 9	Jul 18 – Sep 5
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 25	May 2	Jul 11 – Aug 29
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jul 3 – Aug 21
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Aug 14
Zone 7a	Feb 25	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 17 – Aug 5
Zone 7b	Feb 18	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 10 – Jul 29
Zone 8a	Feb 8	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 31 – Jul 19
Zone 8b	Jan 28	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 20 – Jul 8
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 28 – Jun 16
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 25	Feb 1	Apr 12 – May 31
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 7

How to Plant Watermelon

Planting Depth

30"

Between Plants

42"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 4a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–100 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Cucurbitaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Cucurbitaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Watermelon

Watermelon matures in just 70–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Watermelon

✅ Good Companions

Corn Radish Lettuce

❌ Keep Away From

Potatoes

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Watermelon

Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks early or direct sow after soil is warm. Plant on mounds with plenty of space. Check ripeness by looking for a yellow ground spot and dull thump when tapped.

💧 Watering: Watermelon needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Watermelon Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Watermelon by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Watermelon?

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) takes 70 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Watermelon grow in?

Watermelon can be grown in USDA zones 4a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Watermelon need?

Growing Watermelon requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.

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