When to plant Watermelon and cantaloupe in Wisconsin

In spring, from May 1 – June 15 in Caledonia to June 1 – 15 in Wisconsin Rapids.

For a fall crop, from May 15 – June 1 in Baraboo to July 1 – 15 in South Milwaukee.

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 Wisconsin
PlaceSpringFall
AllouezMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
AppletonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
AshwaubenonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BarabooMay 15 – June 15May 15 – June 1
Beaver DamMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BellevueMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BeloitMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
BrookfieldMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Brown DeerMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
BurlingtonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
CaledoniaMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
CedarburgMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Chippewa FallsJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
CudahyMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
De PereMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
DeForestMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Eau ClaireMay 1 – June 15June 1 – 15
ElkhornMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
FitchburgMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Fond du LacMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Fort AtkinsonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Fox CrossingMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
FranklinMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
GermantownJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
GlendaleMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
GraftonMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Green BayJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
GreendaleMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
GreenfieldMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
GreenvilleMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
HarrisonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
HartfordJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
HartlandMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
HobartMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
HolmenMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
HowardJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
HudsonMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
JanesvilleMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
KaukaunaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
KenoshaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
La CrosseMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
LisbonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Little ChuteMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MadisonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
ManitowocMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MarinetteMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MarshfieldMay 15 – June 15May 15 – June 1
MenashaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Menomonee FallsJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
MenomonieJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
MequonJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
MiddletonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
MilwaukeeMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MonroeMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Mount PleasantMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
MuskegoMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
NeenahMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
New BerlinMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
New RichmondMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Oak CreekMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
OconomowocMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
OnalaskaMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
OregonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
OshkoshMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
PewaukeeMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
PlattevilleMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Pleasant PrairieMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
PloverMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Port WashingtonMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
RacineMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
ReedsburgMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
RichfieldMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
River FallsJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
Salem LakesMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
SheboyganMay 1 – June 15June 15 – July 20
ShorewoodMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
South MilwaukeeMay 1 – June 15July 1 – 15
Stevens PointMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
StoughtonMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
SuamicoJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
Sun PrairieMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
SuperiorJune 1 – 15June 1 – 15
SussexMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
Two RiversMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
VeronaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WatertownMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WaukeshaMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WaunakeeMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WaupunMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WausauJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
WauwatosaMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
West AllisMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
West BendMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WestonJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1
Whitefish BayMay 15 – June 15June 15 – July 20
WhitewaterMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
WindsorMay 15 – June 15June 1 – 15
Wisconsin RapidsJune 1 – 15May 15 – June 1

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