Cantaloupe planting calendar for USDA Zone 9b

Orlando, Tampa, San Antonio, southern LA coast. Average last spring frost February 5, first fall frost December 15 — a 313-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Cantaloupe is well suited to Zone 9b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

January 8 – January 22

Direct-seed or transplant outdoors

February 12 – March 5

Expected first harvest

May 10 – June 7

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 9b

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 9b

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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