When to plant cantaloupe in Missouri

Cantaloupe
Plant out in Kansas City
Apr 18–May 2

Across Missouri the window opens between April 15 and May 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Kansas City
Mar 7–Mar 14
Plant out, Kansas City
Apr 18–May 2
Sow outdoors, Kansas City
Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 21
Last frost, Kansas City
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
Kansas CityApr 18–May 2
St. LouisApr 15–Apr 29
SpringfieldApr 18–May 2
ColumbiaApr 19–May 3
IndependenceApr 24–May 8
Lee's SummitApr 21–May 5
O'FallonApr 24–May 8
St. CharlesApr 22–May 6
St. JosephMay 3–May 17
Blue SpringsApr 21–May 5
St. PetersApr 23–May 7
JoplinApr 23–May 7
FlorissantApr 16–Apr 30
WentzvilleApr 24–May 8
ChesterfieldApr 18–May 2
Jefferson CityApr 22–May 6
Cape GirardeauApr 19–May 3
OakvilleApr 20–May 4
WildwoodApr 26–May 10
University CityApr 15–Apr 29
LibertyMay 3–May 17
BallwinApr 18–May 2
KirkwoodApr 15–Apr 29
RaytownApr 21–May 5
MehlvilleApr 20–May 4
Maryland HeightsApr 18–May 2
GladstoneApr 18–May 2
GrandviewApr 21–May 5
RaymoreApr 27–May 11
NixaApr 29–May 13
All 41 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
Kansas CityMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
St. LouisMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
SpringfieldMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
ColumbiaMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
IndependenceMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
Lee's SummitMar 10 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
O'FallonMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
St. CharlesMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
St. JosephMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Blue SpringsMar 10 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
St. PetersMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
JoplinMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
FlorissantMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
WentzvilleMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
ChesterfieldMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Jefferson CityMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
Cape GirardeauMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
OakvilleMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
WildwoodMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
University CityMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
LibertyMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
BallwinMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
KirkwoodMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
RaytownMar 10 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
MehlvilleMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
Maryland HeightsMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
GladstoneMar 7 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
GrandviewMar 10 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
RaymoreMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
NixaMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
BeltonMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
HazelwoodMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
OzarkMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Webster GrovesMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
SedaliaMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
RepublicMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
Old JamestownMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
ArnoldMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
RollaMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
WarrensburgMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
AfftonMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1

Questions

When should I plant cantaloupe in Missouri?

In Kansas City, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across Missouri the window opens between April 15 and May 3, 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 Missouri

Cantaloupe in other states

Frost dates for every city in Missouri