When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in San Diego
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off San Diego's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jul 20 – Aug 10
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Oct 3 – Oct 28
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
From sowing to first pick.
Common questions
When can I sow melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) outdoors in San Diego?
Direct-sow around mid July (Jul 20–Aug 10) in San Diego, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
When will melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) be ready to harvest in San Diego?
Expect to harvest from around early October (Oct 3–Oct 28) in San Diego, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
How long is the growing season in San Diego?
San Diego has roughly 365 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 San Diego's frost dates.
Confidence 84/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.