When to plant cantaloupes in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Cantaloupe / Muskmelon needs 70–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant cantaloupes in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 10 – Apr 27, with seeds started indoors Mar 6 – Mar 20. Wait until the soil is at least 70°F and frost is over.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow cantaloupes in Arkansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 6 – Mar 20). Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 4-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 85°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Apr 10 – Apr 27). Space plants about 24 inches apart in rows 60 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: striped cucumber beetle, aphids, squash bug, squash vine borer. Diseases and disorders: powdery mildew, downy mildew, fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt.
- Harvest (from about Jun 26 – Jul 16). Cantaloupe / Muskmelon takes 70-90 days to reach harvest. Needs 70-90 warm days - start indoors in paper pots in short-season areas. Ripe when the fruit slips from the vine with a light tug and smells sweet at the blossom end. Ease off water as fruit ripens for sugar.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full cantaloupe / muskmelon growing guide.
Cantaloupe planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the cantaloupe / muskmelon dates shift with them.
When to plant cantaloupes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Apr 10 – Apr 27 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Apr 1 – Apr 18 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Mar 12 – Mar 29 |
| Florida | February 12 | Feb 19 – Mar 8 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant cantaloupes in Arkansas?
Plant cantaloupe / muskmelon transplants outdoors in Arkansas between April 10 and April 27. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
When should I start cantaloupe / muskmelon seeds indoors in Arkansas?
Start seeds indoors between March 6 and March 20, about 3 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 10.
What is the latest I can plant cantaloupes in Arkansas?
About August 23. Cantaloupes need at least 70 days to mature, and frost around November 1 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will cantaloupes planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cantaloupes are usually ready from about June 26 to July 16, 70-90 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.