Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant cantaloupe in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is cantaloupe's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 8Direct 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.