Crop guide · Citrullus lanatus
Watermelon
Dates below are counted from the average last spring frost or the average first fall frost. Enter a ZIP in the calendar for NOAA 1991–2020 station averages, or pick a zone and use the zone table.
When to plant
Direct sow2 weeks after the average last spring frost.
Soil and site
Sandy, warm, rich hills with room to sprawl.
Seedlings
Direct sow in warm soil; melons hate root disturbance.
In the garden
It needs the full hot Southern summer — a perfect Tennessee crop. Slide straw under developing fruit to prevent rot.
Picking
Three signs together: the tendril nearest the fruit browns, the ground spot turns buttery yellow, and the thump goes hollow.
Gear placeholders
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- Placeholder: seeds for Watermelon
- Placeholder: canning gear
- Placeholder: home freeze dryer
Dates by zone
These pages turn the same frost offsets into calendar dates for each zone the calendar covers.