When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Massachusetts
In spring, from Apr 10 – May 15 in Boston to June 1 – 15 in North Adams.
For a fall crop, from May 15 – June 1 in North Adams to July 15 – 30 in Winthrop Town.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agawam Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Amesbury | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Amherst Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Attleboro | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Barnstable Town | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Beverly | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Boston | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Braintree Town | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Bridgewater Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Brockton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Cambridge | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Chelsea | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Chicopee | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Easthampton | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Everett | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Fall River | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Fitchburg | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Framingham | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Franklin Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Gardner | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Gloucester | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Greenfield | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Haverhill | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Holyoke | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Lawrence | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| Leominster | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Lowell | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Lynn | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Malden | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Marlborough | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Medford | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Melrose | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Methuen | Apr 20 – June 1 | July 1 – 15 |
| New Bedford | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Newburyport | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Newton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| North Adams | June 1 – 15 | May 15 – June 1 |
| North Attleborough Town | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Northampton | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Palmer Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Peabody | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Pittsfield | May 15 – June 15 | May 15 – June 1 |
| Quincy | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Randolph Town | May 1 – June 15 | July 1 – 15 |
| Revere | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Salem | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Somerville | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Southbridge Town | May 1 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Springfield | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Taunton | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Waltham | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Watertown | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| West Springfield Town | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Westfield | May 15 – June 15 | June 1 – 15 |
| Weymouth Town | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Winthrop Town | Apr 10 – May 15 | July 15 – 30 |
| Woburn | May 1 – June 15 | June 15 – July 20 |
| Worcester | May 1 – 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