When to plant cantaloupe in Oregon

Cantaloupe
Plant out in Portland
Mar 11–Mar 25

Across Oregon the window opens between February 25 and June 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Portland
Jan 28–Feb 4
Plant out, Portland
Mar 11–Mar 25
Sow outdoors, Portland
Mar 11–Mar 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 19
Last frost, Portland
Feb 25

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
PortlandMar 11–Mar 25
SalemApr 17–May 1
EugeneApr 25–May 9
GreshamMar 30–Apr 13
HillsboroApr 30–May 14
BendJun 20–Jul 4
BeavertonApr 15–Apr 29
MedfordApr 22–May 6
CorvallisMay 1–May 15
SpringfieldApr 25–May 9
TigardApr 15–Apr 29
AlbanyMay 1–May 15
AlohaFeb 25–Mar 11
Lake OswegoApr 1–Apr 15
Grants PassApr 22–May 6
KeizerApr 17–May 1
RedmondJun 23–Jul 7
Oregon CityApr 1–Apr 15
McMinnvilleApr 19–May 3
WoodburnMar 30–Apr 13
BethanyFeb 25–Mar 11
Happy ValleyApr 1–Apr 15
TualatinApr 15–Apr 29
WilsonvilleApr 1–Apr 15
Forest GroveApr 30–May 14
NewbergApr 4–Apr 18
West LinnApr 1–Apr 15
RoseburgApr 6–Apr 20
HayesvilleApr 17–May 1
MilwaukieMar 11–Mar 25
All 34 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
PortlandJan 28 to Feb 4Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 11 to Mar 25Feb 25
SalemMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
EugeneMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
GreshamFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
HillsboroMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
BendMay 9 to May 16Jun 20 to Jul 4Jun 20 to Jul 4Jun 6
BeavertonMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
MedfordMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
CorvallisMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
SpringfieldMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
TigardMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
AlbanyMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
AlohaJan 14 to Jan 21Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 11
Lake OswegoFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
Grants PassMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
KeizerMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
RedmondMay 12 to May 19Jun 23 to Jul 7Jun 23 to Jul 7Jun 9
Oregon CityFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
McMinnvilleMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
WoodburnFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
BethanyJan 14 to Jan 21Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 11
Happy ValleyFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
TualatinMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
WilsonvilleFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
Forest GroveMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
NewbergFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
West LinnFeb 18 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 18
RoseburgFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
HayesvilleMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
MilwaukieJan 28 to Feb 4Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 11 to Mar 25Feb 25
Klamath FallsMay 12 to May 19Jun 23 to Jul 7Jun 23 to Jul 7Jun 9
AshlandApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
SherwoodFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
LebanonFeb 14 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 14

In Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than cantaloupe need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant cantaloupe in Oregon?

In Portland, plant out from March 11 to March 25. Across Oregon the window opens between February 25 and June 23, 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.

Is the season long enough for cantaloupe everywhere in Oregon?

Not quite. In Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than the time cantaloupe need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Oregon

Cantaloupe in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon