When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in Fayetteville

Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Fayetteville's last spring frost of Mar 25.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 26 – Apr 16
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 22 – Jun 12
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 5 – Aug 30
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
Fayetteville's 228-day season leaves this much room.
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) on Fayetteville'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
MAR 25
NOV 8

Common questions

When can I sow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in Fayetteville?

Direct-sow around late May (May 22–Jun 12) in Fayetteville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When will melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) be ready to harvest in Fayetteville?

Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 5–Aug 30) in Fayetteville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.

When should I start melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) seeds indoors in Fayetteville?

Start seeds indoors around late March (Mar 26–Apr 16) in Fayetteville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.

When can I transplant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in Fayetteville?

Transplant outdoors around late May (May 22–Jun 12) in Fayetteville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

How long is the growing season in Fayetteville?

Fayetteville has roughly 228 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 Fayetteville's frost dates.

Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.