Zone 11 · Melons Growing Guide

When to Plant Watermelon
in Zone 11

Needs a long hot summer and plenty of space. Compact 'icebox' varieties like Sugar Baby work in smaller gardens. Thump test: hollow sound means ripe. Also check the dried tendril near the stem.

Plant outdoors
Feb – Apr
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~none
Days to harvest
75–90 days
Difficulty
Medium
Growing — Zone 11
Harvest window: May – Aug

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Watermelon should be planted outdoors Feb – Apr, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

Year-round growing possible. Avoid peak heat periods — melon quality drops above 100°F.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 8–10 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
36–60 inches
Soil
Sandy loam, well-draining, warm
Days to maturity
75–90 days
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
plant tip · Zone 11

Year-round growing possible. Avoid peak heat periods — melon quality drops above 100°F.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 3 weeks
Feed type
balanced then high potassium
Key timing
switch to high-potassium at flowering

Feed with nitrogen early to build vine, then switch to potassium when flowers appear for better fruit set.

Companion Planting for Watermelon

What you plant next to watermelon makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Radishes
  • Nasturtiums
  • Corn
Keep away from
  • Potatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Fennel

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Watermelon

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 11, direct sow watermelon outdoors Feb – Apr after your last frost date of approximately none. Year-round growing possible. Avoid peak heat periods — melon quality drops above 100°F.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for watermelon include Radishes, Nasturtiums, Corn. Avoid planting near Potatoes, Cucumbers, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Watermelon typically takes 75–90 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 11. Expected harvest window: May – Aug.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Watermelon in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Watermelon in other zones
Crop Guides