When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Missouri

In spring, from Apr 10 – May 15 in Ballwin to May 1 – June 15 in West Plains.

For a fall crop, from June 15 – July 20 in Bolivar to July 15 – 30 in Sikeston.

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 Missouri
PlaceSpringFall
ArnoldApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
BallwinApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Bellefontaine NeighborsApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
BeltonApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Blue SpringsApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
BolivarApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
BransonApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
BridgetonApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Cape GirardeauApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
CarthageApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
ChesterfieldApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
ClaytonApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
ColumbiaApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
CrestwoodApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Creve CoeurApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Dardenne PrairieApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
EllisvilleApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
EurekaApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
Excelsior SpringsMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
FarmingtonApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
FergusonApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
FestusApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
FlorissantApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
FultonApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
GladstoneApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Grain ValleyApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
GrandviewApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
HannibalApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
HazelwoodApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
IndependenceApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
JacksonApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Jefferson CityApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
JenningsApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
JoplinApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Kansas CityApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
KearneyMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
KennettApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
KirksvilleMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
KirkwoodApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
Lake St. LouisApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
LebanonMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Lee's SummitApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
LibertyMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
ManchesterApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
MarshallApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
Maryland HeightsApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
MaryvilleMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MexicoApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
MoberlyApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
MonettApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
NeoshoApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
NixaApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
O'FallonApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
OverlandApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
OzarkApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
Poplar BluffApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
RaymoreApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
RaytownApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
RepublicApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
RollaApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
SedaliaMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
SikestonApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
SmithvilleMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
SpringfieldApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
St. AnnApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
St. CharlesApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
St. JosephMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
St. LouisApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
St. PetersApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Town and CountryApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
TroyApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
UnionApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
University CityApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
WarrensburgApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
WashingtonApr 20 – June 1June 15 – July 20
Webb CityApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Webster GrovesApr 10 – May 15July 1 – 15
WentzvilleApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
West PlainsMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
WildwoodApr 20 – June 1June 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