Cantaloupe planting calendar for USDA Zone 8a

Wilmington NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta, Dallas, Norfolk. Average last spring frost March 28, first fall frost November 5 — a 222-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Cantaloupe is well suited to Zone 8a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

February 28 – March 14

Direct-seed or transplant outdoors

April 4 – April 25

Expected first harvest

June 30 – July 28

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 24″
Row spacing: 72″
Seed depth: 1″
Soil temperature: 70–90°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 80 days

Grower notes for Zone 8a

Harvest at full slip — fruit separates from vine with light thumb pressure. Fruit will not sweeten off the vine.

Plant near: corn, radish

Keep away from: potatoes

Other cucurbits for Zone 8a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

Join the pilot Browse resources