When to plant melons
Melons in November
No zone on our list has a planting window for melons in November. The next one opens in December, in Zones 10a and 10b.
The rule
Days to maturity: 80–90 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Melons are frost-tender; they're grown as a spring/summer crop.
What you'll need
Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Seed-starting traysBurpee SuperSeed 36-cell trayReusable cells that pop seedlings out with the roots intact at transplant time.See price on Amazon- Seed-starting mixEspoma Organic Seed StarterA fine, sterile mix so small seeds can push through and seedlings don't rot.See price on Amazon
- Heat matVIVOSUN heat mat with thermostatWarm-season seeds sprout in days instead of weeks when the soil sits near 75–85°F.See price on Amazon
Ordering seeds or soil for this window? Amazon Prime includes fast delivery on eligible items, and eligible new members may be offered a free trial, so supplies ordered now can arrive while the window is still open. Delivery speed varies by item and address. See if you can try Prime free →
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on qualifying sign-ups, at no extra cost to you. Current terms are on Amazon's page.
Melons planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | May 3 – May 10 | May 24 – June 7 | — |
| Zone 2b | May 11 – May 18 | June 1 – June 15 | — |
| Zone 3b | May 6 – May 13 | May 27 – June 10 | — |
| Zone 4a | April 30 – May 7 | May 21 – June 4 | — |
| Zone 4b | April 26 – May 3 | May 17 – May 31 | — |
| Zone 5a | April 28 – May 5 | May 19 – June 2 | — |
| Zone 5b | April 20 – April 27 | May 11 – May 25 | — |
| Zone 6a | April 16 – April 23 | May 7 – May 21 | — |
| Zone 6b | April 9 – April 16 | April 30 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 7a | April 1 – April 8 | April 22 – May 6 | — |
| Zone 7b | March 23 – March 30 | April 13 – April 27 | — |
| Zone 8a | March 12 – March 19 | April 2 – April 16 | — |
| Zone 8b | March 2 – March 9 | March 23 – April 6 | — |
| Zone 9a | February 16 – February 23 | March 9 – March 23 | — |
| Zone 9b | January 19 – January 26 | February 9 – February 23 | — |
| Zone 10a | December 28 – January 4 | January 18 – February 1 | — |
| Zone 10b | December 30 – January 6 | January 20 – February 3 | — |
Calendar computed 2026-11-08. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension — Vegetable Planting Chart (Circular C963) (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.