When to plant watermelon in Virginia

Watermelon
Plant out in Virginia Beach
Apr 12–Apr 26

Across Virginia the window opens between March 30 and May 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Virginia Beach
Mar 1–Mar 8
Plant out, Virginia Beach
Apr 12–Apr 26
Sow outdoors, Virginia Beach
Apr 12–Apr 26
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 21
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Virginia BeachApr 12–Apr 26
RichmondApr 17–May 1
ArlingtonApr 7–Apr 21
NorfolkMar 30–Apr 13
Newport NewsApr 15–Apr 29
AlexandriaApr 7–Apr 21
HamptonApr 7–Apr 21
SuffolkApr 10–Apr 24
RoanokeApr 17–May 1
PortsmouthApr 6–Apr 20
LynchburgMay 1–May 15
Dale CityApr 26–May 10
CentrevilleApr 29–May 13
RestonApr 28–May 12
HarrisonburgMay 5–May 19
McLeanApr 23–May 7
LeesburgApr 30–May 14
TuckahoeApr 24–May 8
AshburnApr 27–May 11
BlacksburgMay 8–May 22
Lake RidgeApr 26–May 10
CharlottesvilleApr 16–Apr 30
ManassasApr 26–May 10
WoodbridgeApr 11–Apr 25
BurkeApr 28–May 12
Linton HallApr 26–May 10
AnnandaleApr 28–May 12
DanvilleApr 22–May 6
MechanicsvilleApr 24–May 8
OaktonApr 28–May 12
All 64 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
Virginia BeachMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
RichmondMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
ArlingtonFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
NorfolkFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
Newport NewsMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
AlexandriaFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
HamptonFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
SuffolkFeb 27 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Mar 27
RoanokeMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
PortsmouthFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
LynchburgMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
Dale CityMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
CentrevilleMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
RestonMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
HarrisonburgMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
McLeanMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
LeesburgMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
TuckahoeMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
AshburnMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
BlacksburgMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
Lake RidgeMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
CharlottesvilleMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
ManassasMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
WoodbridgeFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
BurkeMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Linton HallMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
AnnandaleMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
DanvilleMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
MechanicsvilleMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
OaktonMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Fair OaksMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
South RidingMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
PetersburgMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
SterlingMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
SpringfieldFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
West Falls ChurchMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
FredericksburgMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
WinchesterMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
Short PumpMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
TysonsMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
StauntonMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
FairfaxMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Cave SpringMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
SalemMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
HerndonMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
BrambletonMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
WaynesboroMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
ChantillyMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
ChesterMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Cherry HillFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
HopewellMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
West SpringfieldMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
LeesylvaniaFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
McNairMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
ChristiansburgMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
MontclairFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
CulpeperMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
LortonMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
WoodlawnMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Rose HillFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
MerrifieldMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
BuckhallMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
MeadowbrookMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from April 12 to April 26. Across Virginia the window opens between March 30 and May 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Virginia

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia