How to grow watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Get your exact dates
The windows below are relative to your frost dates. Enter your ZIP for the calendar dates.
Open the planting calendarWhen to plant watermelon
Transplant outdoorsat your last spring frost to 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Direct sowat your last spring frost to 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Days to maturity
- 85 to 90 (from transplant)
- Spacing
- 60 to 72 in apart, rows 72 in
- Planting depth
- 1 in
- Sun
- Full sun
Common problems
Watermelon by hardiness zone
Planting dates for a typical location in each zone:
Sources
Last updated 2026-06-11.