When to Plant Cantaloupe in Beaumont, Texas (77708)

Location

Beaumont, Texas

ZIP Code

77708

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Friday, February 20, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Friday, January 23, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Friday, March 6, 2026

Based on last frost Friday, February 20, 2026 · Zone 9a

Pro tip: Start Cantaloupe seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis

Days to Maturity 80 days

Mature Height 12-18"

Spread 48"

Type Vine

Fruit Size Medium-Large (3-8 lbs)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (8+ hours)

💧

Water

Regular, reduce near harvest

↔️

Spacing

48" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

1" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 5-10 days

Ready to Plant Cantaloupe in Beaumont?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Friday, January 23, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

CornSunflowerMarigold

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

CucumberPotato

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Cantaloupe

See which plants help Cantaloupe thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Cantaloupe Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Hale's Best Jumbo

muskmelon 86d

Classic American muskmelon with thick, salmon-orange flesh and intense sweetness.

Ambrosia

hybrid 86d

Hybrid with exceptionally sweet, creamy flesh and a small seed cavity.

Honey Rock

heirloom 80d

Small, ribbed heirloom with salmon flesh and classic musky cantaloupe flavor.

Athena

hybrid 75d

Large, uniform hybrid with thick orange flesh and excellent shelf life.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Allow fruit to fully ripen on the vine — ripe eating-quality fruit has the best seed viability.

Processing

Scoop seeds from ripe melon, rinse in strainer, spread flat to dry for 2 weeks.

Seed Viability

Up to 5 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Cantaloupe crosses with honeydew and other C. melo melons. Isolate by 500 feet or hand-pollinate.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 2 plants of Cantaloupe. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cantaloupe in Beaumont, Texas? +

In Beaumont (Zone 9a), start Cantaloupe seeds indoors around Friday, January 23, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Beaumont, Texas? +

The average last spring frost date for Beaumont, Texas (ZIP 77708) is around Friday, February 20, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 9a.

How long does Cantaloupe take to grow? +

Cantaloupe typically matures in about 80 days from transplanting. In Beaumont, that means you can expect harvest around Friday, March 6, 2026 plus 80 days.

Should I start Cantaloupe indoors or direct sow in Texas? +

Cantaloupe should be started indoors 4 weeks before your last frost date. In Beaumont, that means starting around Friday, January 23, 2026.

📚 More Cantaloupe Planting Guides

🗺️

Cantaloupe in Texas

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 9a Cantaloupe Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Beaumont

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Cantaloupe in Zone 9a

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) is a popular garden vegetable. In Beaumont, Texas, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a, you should start seeds indoors around Friday, January 23, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Friday, February 20, 2026. Plan to transplant your Cantaloupe seedlings outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.