When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in El Paso
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off El Paso's last spring frost of Mar 6.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 7 – Mar 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 3 – May 24
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 17 – Aug 11
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
El Paso's 252-day season leaves this much room.
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) on El Paso's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
MAR 6
NOV 17
Common questions
When can I sow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in El Paso?
Direct-sow around early May (May 3–May 24) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When will melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) be ready to harvest in El Paso?
Expect to harvest from around mid July (Jul 17–Aug 11) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When should I start melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) seeds indoors in El Paso?
Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 7–Mar 28) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.
When can I transplant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in El Paso?
Transplant outdoors around early May (May 3–May 24) in El Paso, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
How long is the growing season in El Paso?
El Paso has roughly 252 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and El Paso's frost dates.
Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.