When to plant cantaloupe in Massachusetts

Cantaloupe
Plant out in Boston
Apr 18–May 2

Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 18 and May 19. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Boston
Mar 7–Mar 14
Plant out, Boston
Apr 18–May 2
Sow outdoors, Boston
Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 28
Last frost, Boston
Apr 4

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
BostonApr 18–May 2
WorcesterMay 7–May 21
SpringfieldMay 17–May 31
CambridgeMay 3–May 17
LowellMay 14–May 28
BrocktonMay 6–May 20
LynnMay 9–May 23
QuincyMay 9–May 23
New BedfordMay 13–May 27
Fall RiverMay 13–May 27
NewtonMay 3–May 17
LawrenceApr 27–May 11
SomervilleApr 18–May 2
FraminghamMay 10–May 24
HaverhillMay 15–May 29
MaldenApr 18–May 2
WalthamMay 12–May 26
BrooklineMay 3–May 17
TauntonMay 6–May 20
RevereApr 18–May 2
MedfordApr 18–May 2
Weymouth TownMay 9–May 23
PeabodyMay 8–May 22
ChicopeeMay 17–May 31
MethuenApr 27–May 11
EverettApr 18–May 2
Barnstable TownApr 30–May 14
AttleboroMay 11–May 25
ArlingtonMay 12–May 26
SalemMay 9–May 23
All 69 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
BostonMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
WorcesterMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
SpringfieldApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
CambridgeMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
LowellApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
BrocktonMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
LynnMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
QuincyMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
New BedfordApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Fall RiverApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
NewtonMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
LawrenceMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
SomervilleMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
FraminghamMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
HaverhillApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
MaldenMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
WalthamMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
BrooklineMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
TauntonMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
RevereMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
MedfordMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Weymouth TownMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
PeabodyMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
ChicopeeApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
MethuenMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
EverettMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Barnstable TownMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
AttleboroMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
ArlingtonMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
SalemMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
LeominsterApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
WoburnMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
BeverlyApr 6 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 4
PittsfieldApr 7 to Apr 14May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2May 5
MarlboroughApr 4 to Apr 11May 16 to May 30May 16 to May 30May 2
FitchburgApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
Amherst TownApr 7 to Apr 14May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2May 5
WestfieldApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
ChelseaMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Braintree TownMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
HolyokeApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
WatertownMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Randolph TownMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
LexingtonMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
Franklin TownApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
NeedhamMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
North Attleborough TownMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
NorwoodMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
NorthamptonApr 7 to Apr 14May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2May 5
GloucesterApr 6 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 4
WellesleyMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
MelroseMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
Bridgewater TownApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
West Springfield TownApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
Agawam TownApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
SaugusMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
MiltonMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
DanversMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
MilfordApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
WakefieldMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
BelmontMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
BurlingtonMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
ReadingMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
DedhamMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
WilmingtonMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
StonehamMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
WinchesterMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
GardnerApr 4 to Apr 11May 16 to May 30May 16 to May 30May 2
MarbleheadMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25

Questions

When should I plant cantaloupe in Massachusetts?

In Boston, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across Massachusetts the window opens between April 18 and May 19, 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 Massachusetts

Cantaloupe in other states

Frost dates for every city in Massachusetts