When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in Nashville

Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Nashville's last spring frost of Mar 30.
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
Jun 2 – Jun 23
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 16 – Sep 10
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
Nashville's 218-day season leaves this much room.
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) on Nashville'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 30
NOV 2

Common questions

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

Direct-sow around early June (Jun 2–Jun 23) in Nashville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

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

Expect to harvest from around mid August (Aug 16–Sep 10) in Nashville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

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

Start seeds indoors around late March (Mar 26–Apr 16) in Nashville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

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

Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 2–Jun 23) in Nashville, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

How long is the growing season in Nashville?

Nashville has roughly 218 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 Nashville's frost dates.

Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.