Growing cantaloupe: timing, spacing and costs by zone
When to plant cantaloupe in Zones 6–9, spacing, and what to know before you commit ground.
Not yet expert-reviewed. Written by BAU Farm Intelligence from public extension and agency sources. Check dates and program details with your local extension office.
When to plant
Cantaloupe: warm-season, will not take a frost. Plant when soil reaches 70–90°F. Dates below are averages worked out from each zone's frost dates — check your own field.
- Zone 6b (Boone NC): set out May 1 – May 22. First picking around July 27 – August 24.
- Zone 7b (Raleigh): set out April 15 – May 6. First picking around July 11 – August 8.
- Zone 8b (Charleston SC): set out March 22 – April 12. First picking around June 17 – July 15.
- Zone 9a (Gainesville FL): set out March 4 – March 25. First picking around May 30 – June 27.
Setting it up
Direct-seed or transplant (start transplants about 3 weeks ahead). Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 72 inches apart, about 1 inch deep. Expect roughly 80 days to first harvest.
Field notes
Harvest at full slip — fruit separates from vine with light thumb pressure. Fruit will not sweeten off the vine.
How it fits each zone
- Zone 6b: good — Cantaloupe is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.
- Zone 7b: excellent — Cantaloupe is well suited to Zone 7b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 8b: excellent — Cantaloupe is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 9a: excellent — Cantaloupe is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
What it costs per acre
- University of Delaware Cantaloupe budget — 2023 (University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, 2023): about $3,517 per acre in transcribed costs.
- 2008 Maryland Vegetable Enterprise Budgets: Cantaloupe — Per Acre (University of Maryland Extension, 2008): about $2,032 per acre in transcribed costs.
These are published budgets, not your costs. Plug your own numbers into the breakeven calculator before you commit ground.
Before you plant
Line up who will buy it and at what price before seed goes in the ground. See the planting calendar for your exact zone.