When to plant cantaloupes in Texas
Texas’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a). Cantaloupe / Muskmelon needs 70–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Texas's growing season.
Texas covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant cantaloupes in Texas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 22 – Apr 8, with seeds started indoors Feb 15 – Mar 1. 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 Texas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 15 – Mar 1). 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 22 – Apr 8). 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 7 – Jun 27). 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 Texas’s average frost dates. More in the full cantaloupe / muskmelon growing guide.
Cantaloupe planting dates by USDA zone in Texas
Texas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a. 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.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant cantaloupe / muskmelon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Apr 22 – May 9 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Feb 6 – Feb 23 |
Questions gardeners in Texas ask
When is the best time to plant cantaloupes in Texas?
Plant cantaloupe / muskmelon transplants outdoors in Texas between March 22 and April 8. That timing is set by Texas's average last spring frost of March 15; Texas spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start cantaloupe / muskmelon seeds indoors in Texas?
Start seeds indoors between February 15 and March 1, about 3 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 22.
What is the latest I can plant cantaloupes in Texas?
About September 6. Cantaloupes need at least 70 days to mature, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will cantaloupes planted in Texas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cantaloupes are usually ready from about June 7 to June 27, 70-90 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Texas?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.