When to plant melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) in Santa Ana
Melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Santa Ana's last spring frost.
Step 1 · Sow
Direct sow outdoors
Jun 24 – Jul 15
Sow straight into warm, workable soil.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 7 – Oct 2
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 Santa Ana?
Direct-sow around late June (Jun 24–Jul 15) in Santa Ana, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
When will melon (cantaloupe/watermelon) be ready to harvest in Santa Ana?
Expect to harvest from around early September (Sep 7–Oct 2) in Santa Ana, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
How long is the growing season in Santa Ana?
Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana's frost dates.
Confidence 85/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.