When to plant cantaloupe in Alabama

Cantaloupe
Plant out in Huntsville
Apr 7–Apr 21

Across Alabama the window opens between March 7 and April 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Huntsville
Feb 24–Mar 3
Plant out, Huntsville
Apr 7–Apr 21
Sow outdoors, Huntsville
Apr 7–Apr 21
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 27
Last frost, Huntsville
Mar 24

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. A ripe cantaloupe slips off the vine with a light push.

Cantaloupe planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
HuntsvilleApr 7–Apr 21
MobileMar 7–Mar 21
BirminghamApr 4–Apr 18
MontgomeryMar 18–Apr 1
TuscaloosaApr 1–Apr 15
HooverApr 2–Apr 16
AuburnMar 27–Apr 10
DothanMar 15–Mar 29
MadisonApr 7–Apr 21
DecaturApr 9–Apr 23
FlorenceApr 10–Apr 24
PrattvilleMar 27–Apr 10
Phenix CityMar 19–Apr 2
Vestavia HillsApr 4–Apr 18
OpelikaApr 12–Apr 26
AlabasterMar 26–Apr 9
AthensApr 3–Apr 17
GadsdenApr 2–Apr 16
NorthportApr 1–Apr 15
DaphneMar 29–Apr 12
EnterpriseMar 23–Apr 6
FoleyMar 19–Apr 2
HomewoodApr 4–Apr 18
TrussvilleApr 18–May 2
FairhopeMar 24–Apr 7
PelhamApr 2–Apr 16
BessemerApr 6–Apr 20
AlbertvilleMar 31–Apr 14
HelenaApr 2–Apr 16
OxfordApr 6–Apr 20
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
HuntsvilleFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
MobileJan 24 to Jan 31Mar 7 to Mar 21Mar 7 to Mar 21Feb 21
BirminghamFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
MontgomeryFeb 4 to Feb 11Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 18 to Apr 1Mar 4
TuscaloosaFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
HooverFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
AuburnFeb 13 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 13
DothanFeb 1 to Feb 8Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 15 to Mar 29Mar 1
MadisonFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
DecaturFeb 26 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Mar 26
FlorenceFeb 27 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Mar 27
PrattvilleFeb 13 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 13
Phenix CityFeb 5 to Feb 12Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 5
Vestavia HillsFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
OpelikaMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
AlabasterFeb 12 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 12
AthensFeb 20 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 20
GadsdenFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
NorthportFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
DaphneFeb 15 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 15
EnterpriseFeb 9 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 9
FoleyFeb 5 to Feb 12Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 5
HomewoodFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
TrussvilleMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
FairhopeFeb 10 to Feb 17Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 10
PelhamFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
BessemerFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
AlbertvilleFeb 17 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 17
HelenaFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
OxfordFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
Mountain BrookFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
AnnistonFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
CullmanMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31

Questions

When should I plant cantaloupe in Alabama?

In Huntsville, plant out from April 7 to April 21. Across Alabama the window opens between March 7 and April 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Alabama

Cantaloupe in other states

Frost dates for every city in Alabama