When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe

Where the average last spring freeze is April 10, USDA's table says to plant watermelon from Apr 20 to June 1; where the average first fall freeze is October 20, plant a fall crop between June 15 and July 20. The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: watermelon
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Feb 15 – Mar 15
Feb 8Feb 15 – Apr 1
Feb 18Feb 15 – Apr 15
Feb 28Mar 1 – Apr 15
Mar 10Mar 15 – Apr 15
Mar 20Apr 1 – May 1
Mar 30Apr 10 – May 15
Apr 10Apr 20 – June 1
Apr 20May 1 – June 15
Apr 30May 15 – June 15
May 10June 1 – 15
May 20June 15 – July 1
May 30Not listed
June 10Not listed
Latest safe fall planting dates: watermelon
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30Not listed
Sept 10Not listed
Sept 20May 1 – June 15
Sept 30May 15 – June 1
Oct 10June 1 – 15
Oct 20June 15 – July 20
Oct 30July 1 – 15
Nov 10July 15 – 30
Nov 20Not listed
Nov 30Not listed
Dec 10Not listed
Dec 20Not listed
Earliest safe spring planting dates: cantaloupe (muskmelon)
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Feb 15 – Mar 15
Feb 8Feb 15 – Apr 1
Feb 18Feb 15 – Apr 15
Feb 28Mar 1 – Apr 15
Mar 10Mar 15 – Apr 15
Mar 20Apr 1 – May 1
Mar 30Apr 10 – May 15
Apr 10Apr 20 – June 1
Apr 20May 1 – June 15
Apr 30May 15 – June 15
May 10June 1 – 15
May 20Not listed
May 30Not listed
June 10Not listed
Latest safe fall planting dates: cantaloupe (muskmelon)
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30Not listed
Sept 10Not listed
Sept 20May 1 – June 15
Sept 30May 15 – June 1
Oct 10June 1 – 15
Oct 20June 15 – July 20
Oct 30July 1 – 15
Nov 10July 15 – 30
Nov 20Not listed
Nov 30Not listed
Dec 10Not listed
Dec 20Not listed

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Watermelon by state

Updated