Rainline Garden

When to plant melons in Baker City, OR

Plant melons in the garden in Baker City May 25 – Jun 15, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Apr 27 – May 4.

Tricky here Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. Frost kills melons, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 25. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Tricky here
Sun
Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing
24 to 36 inches apart
Planting depth
1 inch deep
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 85 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Apr 27 – May 4 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden May 25 – Jun 15, 24 to 36 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them 1 inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Cantaloupes are ripe when the stem slips off with a gentle push. Watermelons are ready when the curly tendril nearest the fruit turns brown and dry.

Varieties that do well here

  • Sugar Baby (watermelon)
  • Minnesota Midget (cantaloupe)
  • Halona (cantaloupe)

Watch out for

Cool soil and cool nights are the main obstacle west of the Cascades. Black plastic mulch and row cover until flowering make the difference.

The toughest heat lover for west-side gardens: choose short-season varieties and use black plastic and row cover. Eastern valleys grow them easily.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant melons in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through June 15. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 15.

When should I start melons from seed indoors in Baker City?

April 27 to May 4, which is 4 to 3 weeks before the May 25 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Baker City around the same time

Planting dates for melons in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Baker City · Melons in every city