Watermelon planting calendar for USDA Zone 8b

Charleston SC, Savannah, Mobile, Austin, Jacksonville. Average last spring frost March 15, first fall frost November 15 — a 245-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

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

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

February 15 – March 1

Direct-seed or transplant outdoors

March 29 – April 19

Expected first harvest

June 29 – July 27

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: 36″
Row spacing: 96″
Seed depth: 1″
Soil temperature: 75–95°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 85 days

Grower notes for Zone 8b

Ripeness cue: tendril nearest the fruit turns brown and the ground spot yellows. Do not go by thumping alone.

Plant near: corn, radish

Keep away from: potatoes

Other cucurbits for Zone 8b

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.

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