When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Michigan

In spring, from May 1 – June 15 in Ferndale to June 15 – July 1 in Cadillac.

For a fall crop, from May 15 – June 1 in Burton to July 1 – 15 in Woodhaven.

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.

Watermelon planting dates by place in Michigan
PlaceSpringFall
AdrianMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Allen ParkMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
AlpenaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Ann ArborMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Auburn HillsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Battle CreekMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Bay CityMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BerkleyMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Beverly HillsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BirminghamMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BurtonJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
CadillacJune 15 – July 1Cantaloupe (muskmelon): not listedMay 15 – June 1
ClawsonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
ColdwaterMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
DearbornMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Dearborn HeightsMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
DetroitMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
East Grand RapidsJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
East LansingMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
EastpointeMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
EscanabaJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
FarmingtonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Farmington HillsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
FentonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
FerndaleMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Flat RockMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
FlintMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
FraserMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Garden CityMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Grand HavenMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Grand RapidsJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
GrandvilleJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
Grosse Pointe ParkMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Grosse Pointe WoodsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
HamtramckMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Harper WoodsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Hazel ParkMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
HollandMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
InksterMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
IoniaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
JacksonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
KalamazooMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
KentwoodMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
LansingMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Lincoln ParkMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
LivoniaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Madison HeightsMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
MarquetteJune 1 – 15June 15 – July 20
MelvindaleMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MidlandMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MonroeMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Mount ClemensMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Mount PleasantMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MuskegonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
New BaltimoreMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
NilesMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Norton ShoresMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
NoviMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Oak ParkMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
OwossoMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
PontiacMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Port HuronMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
PortageMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
RiverviewMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
RochesterMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Rochester HillsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
RomulusMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
RosevilleMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Royal OakMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
SaginawMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Sault Ste. MarieJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
South LyonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
SouthfieldMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
SouthgateMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
St. Clair ShoresMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Sterling HeightsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
SturgisMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
TaylorMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Traverse CityJune 1 – 15June 15 – July 20
TrentonMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
TroyMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
WalkerJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
WarrenMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
WayneMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
WestlandMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
WixomJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
WoodhavenMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
WyandotteMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WyomingJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
YpsilantiMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15

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