When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in Salt Lake City

Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Salt Lake City's last spring frost of Apr 13.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Apr 12 – May 3
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 25 – Jul 16
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 8 – Oct 3
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
Salt Lake City's 194-day season leaves this much room.
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) on Salt Lake City'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
APR 13
OCT 26

Common questions

When can I sow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in Salt Lake City?

Direct-sow around late June (Jun 25–Jul 16) in Salt Lake City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

When will melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) be ready to harvest in Salt Lake City?

Expect to harvest from around early September (Sep 8–Oct 3) in Salt Lake City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

When should I start melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) seeds indoors in Salt Lake City?

Start seeds indoors around mid April (Apr 12–May 3) in Salt Lake City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When can I transplant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in Salt Lake City?

Transplant outdoors around late June (Jun 25–Jul 16) in Salt Lake City, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

How long is the growing season in Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has roughly 194 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 Salt Lake City's frost dates.

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