When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in North Carolina
In spring, from Mar 15 – Apr 15 in Goldsboro to May 15 – June 15 in Waynesville.
For a fall crop, from June 1 – 15 in Boone to July 15 – 30 in Zebulon.
Cantaloupe (muskmelon) dates are the same as watermelon except where the table notes them.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Apex | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Archdale | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Asheboro | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Asheville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Belmont | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Boone | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Burlington | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Carrboro | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Cary | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Chapel Hill | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Charlotte | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Clayton | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Clemmons | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Concord | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Cornelius | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Davidson | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Durham | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Eden | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Elizabeth City | Apr 10 – May 15 | Not listed |
| Elon | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fayetteville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Fuquay-Varina | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Garner | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Gastonia | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Goldsboro | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Graham | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Greensboro | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Greenville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Harrisburg | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Havelock | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Henderson | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Hendersonville | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hickory | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| High Point | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Holly Springs | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Hope Mills | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Huntersville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Indian Trail | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Jacksonville | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Kannapolis | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Kernersville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Kings Mountain | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Kinston | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Knightdale | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Laurinburg | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Leland | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Lenoir | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lewisville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lexington | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lincolnton | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lumberton | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Matthews | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Mebane | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mint Hill | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Monroe | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mooresville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Morganton | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Morrisville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mount Airy | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Mount Holly | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| New Bern | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Newton | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Pinehurst | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Pineville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Raleigh | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Reidsville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Roanoke Rapids | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Rocky Mount | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Rolesville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Salisbury | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Sanford | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Shelby | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Smithfield | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Southern Pines | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Spring Lake | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Stallings | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Statesville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Summerfield | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Tarboro | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Thomasville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Wake Forest | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Waxhaw | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Waynesville | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Weddington | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Wendell | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Wilmington | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Wilson | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Winston-Salem | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Winterville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Zebulon | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. The full USDA table for watermelon.
Updated