When should you start seeds in pots?
Enter your intended outdoor transplant date to count back 2 to 4 weeks.
The outdoor date must allow for frost and soil warmth. Check leaf development before transplanting; the calculation does not assess your seedlings.
Planting dates
Choose a tentative outdoor planting date using local frost information, then check the soil. If the bed is still too cold, delay outdoor planting and revise the seed-starting plan.
Texas A&M: Easy gardening, melonsYour region
Compare the North Texas and San Antonio windows below with your garden’s location. The North Texas fall crop starts in early summer. These local recommendations do not cover the Panhandle, the coast or every other Texas growing area; use a county melon calendar if your garden is elsewhere.
North Texas (Tarrant County guide)
Spring: April 5 to May 1
Texas A&M, Tarrant County: North Texas planting datesNorth Texas (Tarrant County guide)
Fall crop: June 15 to July 1
Texas A&M, Tarrant County: North Texas planting datesSan Antonio area
Spring seed sowing: March 15 to May 1
Texas A&M, Bexar County: Spring plantingSeed or transplant?
For direct sowing, wait for the outdoor conditions in the summary. For transplants, count back 2 to 4 weeks from the intended move-out date. Inspect the leaves as well as the calendar: Texas A&M says to transplant before the second true leaf opens.
Texas A&M: Easy gardening, melonsPlan the space first
Muskmelon vines need room. The melon guide describes trellising in small gardens with support for the fruit. Sketch where the vines or support will go before selecting a position beside another crop.
Texas A&M: Easy gardening, melonsToo late?
Texas A&M groups cantaloupe with crops taking more than 80 days and identifies it as frost susceptible. For a late sowing, compare your variety’s maturity information with the local first-frost outlook. That comparison is a screening step, not a promise of ripe fruit.
Texas A&M: Fall vegetable gardening guideChoose your next step
You have seed and the outdoor window is open
Choose direct sowing if it fits your packet instructions and bed plan. Record the variety and sowing date so you can compare the result next season.You want to raise a young transplant
Choose the outdoor date first and work backward 2 to 4 weeks. Keep checking leaf development; do not let a calendar reminder replace looking at the plant.You want another crop before fall frost
Check the variety’s maturity period and whether it is counted from sowing or transplanting. If you cannot establish that distinction, clarify it with the seed supplier before deciding there is enough time.Planting questions
Does this guide mean muskmelon?
Yes. Texas A&M notes that the muskmelons commonly grown in Texas are often called cantaloupes. Check the name on your seed packet when comparing recommendations.
Texas A&M: Easy gardening, melonsCan I start seedlings much earlier?
The source recommends a short lead time and transplanting before the second true leaf opens. Starting earlier does not remove the need for suitable outdoor conditions.
Texas A&M: Easy gardening, melonsCan I copy watermelon’s planting dates?
This guide does not use watermelon dates as cantaloupe evidence. Use a local cantaloupe recommendation when you need a calendar range.