When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Illinois
In spring, from Apr 10 – May 15 in Alton to May 15 – June 15 in Zion.
For a fall crop, from June 1 – 15 in Bartlett to July 15 – 30 in Wood River.
Cantaloupe (muskmelon) dates are the same as watermelon except where the table notes them.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Addison | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Algonquin | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Alsip | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Alton | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Antioch | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Arlington Heights | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Aurora | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Barrington | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bartlett | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Batavia | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Beach Park | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Belleville | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bellwood | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Belvidere | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bensenville | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Berwyn | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Bloomingdale | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Bloomington | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Blue Island | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Bolingbrook | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bourbonnais | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bradley | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bridgeview | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Brookfield | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Buffalo Grove | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Burbank | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Burr Ridge | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Cahokia Heights | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Calumet City | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Campton Hills | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Canton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Carbondale | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Carol Stream | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Carpentersville | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Cary | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Centralia | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Champaign | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Channahon | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Charleston | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Chatham | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Chicago | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Chicago Heights | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Chicago Ridge | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Cicero | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Collinsville | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Columbia | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Country Club Hills | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Crest Hill | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Crestwood | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Crystal Lake | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Danville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Darien | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Decatur | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Deerfield | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| DeKalb | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Des Plaines | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Dixon | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Dolton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Downers Grove | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| East Moline | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| East Peoria | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| East St. Louis | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Edwardsville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Effingham | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Elgin | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Elk Grove Village | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Elmhurst | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Elmwood Park | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Evanston | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Evergreen Park | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fairview Heights | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Forest Park | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Fox Lake | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Frankfort | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Franklin Park | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Freeport | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Galesburg | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Geneva | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Glen Carbon | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Glen Ellyn | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Glendale Heights | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Glenview | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Godfrey | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Granite City | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Grayslake | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Gurnee | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hanover Park | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Harvey | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hazel Crest | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Herrin | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hickory Hills | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Highland | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Highland Park | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hinsdale | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Hoffman Estates | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Homer Glen | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Homewood | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Huntley | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Jacksonville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Joliet | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Justice | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Kankakee | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Kewanee | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| La Grange | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| La Grange Park | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Lake Forest | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lake in the Hills | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lake Zurich | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lansing | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lemont | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Libertyville | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lincoln | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lincolnwood | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lindenhurst | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lisle | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lockport | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lombard | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Loves Park | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Lyons | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Machesney Park | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Macomb | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Mahomet | May 1 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Manhattan | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Marion | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Markham | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Matteson | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Mattoon | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Maywood | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| McHenry | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Melrose Park | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Midlothian | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Minooka | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mokena | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Moline | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Montgomery | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Morris | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Morton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Morton Grove | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Mount Prospect | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Mount Vernon | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Mundelein | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Naperville | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| New Lenox | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Niles | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Normal | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Norridge | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| North Aurora | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| North Chicago | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Northbrook | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Northlake | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| O'Fallon | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Oak Forest | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Oak Lawn | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Oak Park | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Orland Park | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Oswego | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Ottawa | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Palatine | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Palos Heights | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Palos Hills | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Park Forest | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Park Ridge | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Pekin | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Peoria | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Pingree Grove | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Plainfield | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Plano | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Pontiac | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Prospect Heights | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Quincy | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Rantoul | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Richton Park | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| River Forest | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| River Grove | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Riverdale | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Rock Island | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Rockford | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Rolling Meadows | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Romeoville | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Roscoe | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Roselle | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Round Lake | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Round Lake Beach | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Schaumburg | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Schiller Park | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Shiloh | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Shorewood | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Skokie | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| South Elgin | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| South Holland | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Springfield | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| St. Charles | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Sterling | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Streamwood | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Streator | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Summit | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Swansea | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Sycamore | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Taylorville | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Tinley Park | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Troy | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Urbana | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Vernon Hills | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Villa Park | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Warrenville | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Washington | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Waterloo | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Wauconda | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Waukegan | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| West Chicago | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Westchester | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Western Springs | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Westmont | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Wheaton | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Wheeling | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Wilmette | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Winfield | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Winnetka | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Wood Dale | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Wood River | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Woodridge | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Woodstock | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Worth | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Yorkville | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Zion | May 15 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. The full USDA table for watermelon.
Updated