When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Tennessee
In spring, from Apr 1 – May 1 in Chattanooga to May 1 – June 15 in Johnson City.
For a fall crop, from June 15 – July 20 in Bristol to July 15 – 30 in Red Bank.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoa | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Arlington | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Athens | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Atoka | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Bartlett | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Brentwood | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Bristol | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Chattanooga | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Clarksville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Cleveland | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Clinton | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Collegedale | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Collierville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Columbia | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Cookeville | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Crossville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Dickson | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Dyersburg | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| East Ridge | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Elizabethton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Fairview | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Farragut | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Franklin | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Gallatin | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Germantown | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Goodlettsville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Greeneville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hartsville/Trousdale County | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Hendersonville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Jackson | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Johnson City | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Kingsport | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Knoxville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| La Vergne | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lakeland | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Lawrenceburg | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lebanon | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lenoir City | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lewisburg | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Manchester | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Martin | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Maryville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| McMinnville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Memphis | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Millington | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Morristown | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mount Juliet | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Murfreesboro | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Nashville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Nolensville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Oak Ridge | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Oakland | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Paris | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Portland | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Red Bank | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Sevierville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Shelbyville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Smyrna | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Soddy-Daisy | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Spring Hill | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Springfield | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Tullahoma | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Union City | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| White House | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Winchester | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
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