Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant cantaloupe in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is cantaloupe's whole year, counted from those dates.
May 29Direct sowSpring
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Warm, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Melons want heat from day one.
Seedling care
Direct sow after soil is thoroughly warm; melons hate root disturbance.
Growing notes
Cut back on water the final week before ripening — drier vines make sweeter melons.
Harvest
Wait for “full slip”: a ripe melon separates from the stem with gentle thumb pressure and smells like melon at the stem end.