When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in South Carolina
In spring, from Feb 15 – Apr 1 in Charleston to May 1 – June 15 in Gaffney.
In fall, from June 15 – July 20 in Gaffney to July 15 – 30 in West Columbia.
Cantaloupe (muskmelon) dates are the same as watermelon except where the table notes them.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Anderson | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Beaufort | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Bluffton | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Cayce | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Charleston | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Clemson | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Columbia | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Conway | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Easley | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Florence | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Forest Acres | Apr 1 – May 1 | Not listed |
| Fort Mill | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fountain Inn | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Gaffney | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Goose Creek | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Greenville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Greenwood | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Greer | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Hanahan | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Hardeeville | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Hilton Head Island | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Irmo | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| James Island | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Lexington | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Mauldin | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Moncks Corner | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Mount Pleasant | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Myrtle Beach | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Newberry | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| North Augusta | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| North Charleston | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| North Myrtle Beach | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Orangeburg | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Port Royal | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Rock Hill | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Simpsonville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Spartanburg | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Summerville | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Sumter | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Tega Cay | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| West Columbia | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. The full USDA table for watermelon.