When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in New York

In spring, from Apr 10 – May 15 in Floral Park to June 15 – July 1 in Oneonta.

For a fall crop, from May 15 – June 1 in Corning to July 15 – 30 in Westbury.

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 New York
PlaceSpringFall
AirmontMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
AlbanyMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
AmsterdamJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
AuburnMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BabylonApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
BataviaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BeaconApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
BinghamtonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BuffaloMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
CanandaiguaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Chestnut RidgeMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
CohoesMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
CorningJune 15 – July 1Cantaloupe (muskmelon): not listedMay 15 – June 1
CortlandJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
DepewMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Dobbs FerryMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
DunkirkMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
East RockawayApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
ElmiraJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
EndicottMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Floral ParkApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
FreeportApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
FultonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Garden CityApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
GenevaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Glen CoveApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
Glens FallsJune 15 – July 1Cantaloupe (muskmelon): not listedMay 15 – June 1
GloversvilleJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
Great NeckApr 10 – May 15Not listed
HarrisonApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
HaverstrawMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
HempsteadApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
IthacaJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
JamestownJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
Johnson CityMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
KenmoreJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
KingstonJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
Kiryas JoelApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
LackawannaMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Lake GroveApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
LancasterMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
LindenhurstApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
LockportMay 15 – June 15July 1 – 15
Long BeachApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
LynbrookApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
MamaroneckMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Massapequa ParkApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
MiddletownMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MineolaApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
Mount KiscoMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Mount VernonApr 10 – May 15Not listed
New Hyde ParkApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
New RochelleMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
New YorkApr 10 – May 15Not listed
NewburghMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Niagara FallsMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
North TonawandaJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
OleanJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
OneidaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
OneontaJune 15 – July 1Cantaloupe (muskmelon): not listedMay 15 – June 1
OssiningMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
OswegoMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
PatchogueApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
PeekskillMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
PlattsburghJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
Port ChesterApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
PoughkeepsieMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
RochesterMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Rockville CentreApr 20 – June 1July 15 – 30
RomeJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
RyeApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
Saratoga SpringsMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
ScarsdaleMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
SchenectadyMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Sleepy HollowMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Spring ValleyMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
SuffernMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
SyracuseMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
TarrytownMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
TonawandaJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
TroyMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
UticaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Valley StreamApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
WatertownMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WatervlietMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
West HaverstrawMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
WestburyApr 10 – May 15July 15 – 30
White PlainsApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
WoodburyApr 20 – June 1July 1 – 15
YonkersMay 1 – June 15July 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