When to plant cantaloupes in Mississippi
Mississippi’s average last spring frost is March 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 230 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Cantaloupe / Muskmelon needs 70–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant cantaloupes in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 27 – Apr 13, with seeds started indoors Feb 20 – Mar 6. 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 Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 20 – Mar 6). 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 (Mar 27 – Apr 13). 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 12 – Jul 2). 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 Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full cantaloupe / muskmelon growing guide.
Cantaloupe planting dates by USDA zone in Mississippi
Mississippi spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant cantaloupes in Mississippi?
Plant cantaloupe / muskmelon transplants outdoors in Mississippi between March 27 and April 13. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start cantaloupe / muskmelon seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between February 20 and March 6, about 3 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 27.
What is the latest I can plant cantaloupes in Mississippi?
About August 27. Cantaloupes need at least 70 days to mature, and frost around November 5 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will cantaloupes planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cantaloupes are usually ready from about June 12 to July 2, 70-90 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Mississippi?
On average around March 20, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 230 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.