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Can You Grow Cantaloupe in Tennessee?

US · USDA Zone 6b · zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

Grows well here

Cantaloupe grows well here — it loves heat and full sun and will reward you with sweet fruit.

Plant zones

4a–11a

Tennessee last frost

mid-March

Tennessee first frost

mid-November

Days to harvest

70–100 days

When to plant Cantaloupes in Tennessee

Start indoors

Feb 14

Transplant

Mar 15

Harvest

May 24 – Jun 23

Dates are approximate, based on Tennessee's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe (muskmelon) is a sweet, fragrant summer melon that needs real heat and full sun to develop its sugar. Slip off the vine when ripe.

Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost or direct sow after frost in warm soil. Thin to 18-24 inches. Harvest when the melon slips easily from the vine with light pressure.

Full cantaloupe growing guide →

Gardening in Tennessee

Tennessee has a humid subtropical climate transitioning to continental in the east. Nashville is Zone 7a; the Appalachians are Zone 6a-6b. Long productive growing seasons.