When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Louisiana
In spring, from Feb 15 – Apr 15 in Abbeville to Apr 1 – May 1 in Minden.
For a fall crop, July 15 – 30.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Alexandria | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Baker | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Baton Rouge | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Bogalusa | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Bossier City | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Broussard | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Carencro | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Central | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Covington | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Crowley | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Gonzales | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Gretna | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Not listed |
| Hammond | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Houma | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Kenner | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Not listed |
| Lafayette | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Lake Charles | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Mandeville | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Minden | Apr 1 – May 1 | July 15 – 30 |
| Monroe | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Morgan City | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Not listed |
| Natchitoches | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| New Iberia | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| New Orleans | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — |
| Opelousas | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Pineville | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Ruston | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Shreveport | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Slidell | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Sulphur | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Thibodaux | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| West Monroe | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Youngsville | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
| Zachary | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Not listed |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means outside the table. The full USDA table for watermelon.
Updated