When to plant cantaloupe in Pennsylvania

Cantaloupe
Plant out in Philadelphia
Apr 13–Apr 27

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 13 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia
Mar 2–Mar 9
Plant out, Philadelphia
Apr 13–Apr 27
Sow outdoors, Philadelphia
Apr 13–Apr 27
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 5
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

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
PhiladelphiaApr 13–Apr 27
PittsburghMay 2–May 16
AllentownMay 4–May 18
ReadingApr 28–May 12
ErieMay 10–May 24
BethlehemMay 4–May 18
ScrantonMay 7–May 21
LancasterMay 3–May 17
LevittownMay 5–May 19
HarrisburgApr 29–May 13
YorkMay 10–May 24
Wilkes-BarreMay 7–May 21
AltoonaMay 9–May 23
State CollegeMay 4–May 18
Penn HillsApr 30–May 14
NorristownApr 22–May 6
ChesterApr 13–Apr 27
Mount LebanonMay 2–May 16
Bethel ParkMay 2–May 16
EastonMay 2–May 16
HazletonMay 14–May 28
Drexel HillApr 16–Apr 30
MonroevilleMay 6–May 20
WilliamsportMay 9–May 23
LebanonMay 4–May 18
PlumApr 30–May 14
King of PrussiaApr 22–May 6
ChambersburgMay 2–May 16
PottstownMay 4–May 18
CarlisleMay 7–May 21
All 35 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
PhiladelphiaMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
PittsburghMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
AllentownMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
ReadingMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
ErieMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
BethlehemMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
ScrantonMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
LancasterMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
LevittownMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
HarrisburgMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
YorkMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
AltoonaMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
State CollegeMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Penn HillsMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
NorristownMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
ChesterMar 2 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Mar 30
Mount LebanonMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
Bethel ParkMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
EastonMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
HazletonApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Drexel HillMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
MonroevilleMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
WilliamsportMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
LebanonMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
PlumMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
King of PrussiaMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
ChambersburgMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
PottstownMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
CarlisleMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
Allison ParkMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
New CastleApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
MurrysvilleMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
BaldwinMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
PhoenixvilleMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant cantaloupe in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from April 13 to April 27. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between April 13 and May 14, 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 Pennsylvania

Cantaloupe in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania