Cantaloupe in Zone 11a & 11b
Cucumis melo
Yes, cantaloupe grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside in Dec–Mar. For a fall crop, plant out in Dec–Mar.
When to plant cantaloupe in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec–Mar |
| Estimated harvest | ~80 days after planting |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists cantaloupe for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of cantaloupe in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
- TatsoiDec 11–Dec 18
- Sweet PotatoDec–Sep
- WatermelonDec–Mar
- Mâche (Corn Salad)Dec 4–Dec 11
Cantaloupe takes up far more room than most vegetables for the yield it gives back, at a quarter plant per square foot, it needs serious space to sprawl, and a single vine won't produce nearly as much fruit as a tomato or pepper plant in the same footprint. What it does deliver, ripened on the vine, is a flavor that store-bought melons (picked underripe for shipping) rarely match.
How cantaloupe fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Cantaloupe planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5a & 5b | Apr 19–Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 12–Aug 19 |
| 6a & 6b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 28–Aug 4 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 8a & 8b | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jun 27–Jul 4 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 20–May 27 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Jan–Jun | Feb–Jul | ~80 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bFall window (your zone) | Not usually | Dec–Mar | ~80 days after planting |
Harvest dates are about 80 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Sweet Corn: Corn provides light afternoon shade without heavy competition for space. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
Where to buy cantaloupe seeds
True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's cantaloupe seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Ambrosia: One of four resistant varieties in the same Cornell trial as Trifecta, all showing significantly better powdery mildew control than the susceptible check with no significant difference in severity between them. Buy: True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cantaloupe" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cantaloupe in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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