When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Virginia
In spring, from Apr 1 – May 1 in Alexandria to May 15 – June 15 in Radford.
For a fall crop, from June 15 – July 20 in Blacksburg to July 15 – 30 in Williamsburg.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Blacksburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bristol | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Charlottesville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Chesapeake | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Christiansburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Colonial Heights | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Culpeper | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Danville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fairfax | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Falls Church | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fredericksburg | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Front Royal | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Hampton | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Harrisonburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Herndon | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hopewell | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Leesburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lynchburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Manassas | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Manassas Park | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Martinsville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Newport News | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Norfolk | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Petersburg | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Poquoson | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Portsmouth | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Radford | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Richmond | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Roanoke | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Salem | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Staunton | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Suffolk | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Vienna | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Virginia Beach | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Warrenton | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Waynesboro | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Williamsburg | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| 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.