When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in San Jose

Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off San Jose's last spring frost of Feb 12.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 17 – Mar 10
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jul 9 – Jul 30
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 22 – Oct 17
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
75 – 100 d
San Jose's 294-day season leaves this much room.
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) on San Jose'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
FEB 12
DEC 3

Common questions

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

Direct-sow around early July (Jul 9–Jul 30) in San Jose, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

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

Expect to harvest from around late September (Sep 22–Oct 17) in San Jose, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 74%.

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

Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 17–Mar 10) in San Jose, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.

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

Transplant outdoors around early July (Jul 9–Jul 30) in San Jose, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

How long is the growing season in San Jose?

San Jose has roughly 294 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 Jose's frost dates.

Confidence 82/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.