When to plant watermelon in Illinois

Plant out in Chicago

Apr 24–May 8

Across Illinois the window opens between April 18 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Chicago: Mar 13–Mar 20
Plant out, Chicago: Apr 24–May 8
Sow outdoors, Chicago: Apr 24–May 8
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 14
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

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. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoApr 24–May 8

AuroraMay 3–May 17

NapervilleMay 12–May 26

JolietMay 3–May 17

RockfordMay 8–May 22

ElginMay 10–May 24

SpringfieldApr 29–May 13

PeoriaApr 30–May 14

ChampaignApr 29–May 13

WaukeganMay 14–May 28

CiceroApr 25–May 9

BloomingtonMay 9–May 23

SchaumburgMay 14–May 28

EvanstonMay 10–May 24

Arlington HeightsMay 3–May 17

BolingbrookMay 4–May 18

DecaturApr 28–May 12

SkokieMay 10–May 24

PalatineMay 9–May 23

Des PlainesApr 30–May 14

Orland ParkMay 3–May 17

Oak LawnApr 24–May 8

Mount ProspectMay 3–May 17

Tinley ParkMay 7–May 21

BerwynApr 25–May 9

WheatonMay 12–May 26

NormalMay 9–May 23

Oak ParkApr 25–May 9

Hoffman EstatesMay 14–May 28

Downers GroveMay 12–May 26

All 121 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Sow outdoors	Last frost
Chicago	Mar 13 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Aurora	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Naperville	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Joliet	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Rockford	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Elgin	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Springfield	Mar 18 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Peoria	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Champaign	Mar 18 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Waukegan	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Cicero	Mar 14 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Bloomington	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Schaumburg	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Evanston	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Arlington Heights	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Bolingbrook	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Decatur	Mar 17 to Mar 24	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 14
Skokie	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Palatine	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Des Plaines	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Orland Park	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Oak Lawn	Mar 13 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Mount Prospect	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Tinley Park	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Berwyn	Mar 14 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Wheaton	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Normal	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Oak Park	Mar 14 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Hoffman Estates	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Downers Grove	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Plainfield	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Glenview	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Elmhurst	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Lombard	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Buffalo Grove	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Moline	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Crystal Lake	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Romeoville	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Bartlett	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
DeKalb	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Belleville	Mar 15 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Oswego	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Urbana	Mar 18 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Carol Stream	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Quincy	Mar 11 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Park Ridge	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Wheeling	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Streamwood	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Carpentersville	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Hanover Park	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Rock Island	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Addison	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Calumet City	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Northbrook	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
North Chicago	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Woodridge	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
St. Charles	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Mundelein	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
O'Fallon	Mar 15 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Glendale Heights	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Elk Grove Village	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Pekin	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Algonquin	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Highland Park	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Gurnee	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Niles	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
McHenry	Apr 3 to Apr 10	May 15 to May 29	May 15 to May 29	May 1
Huntley	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
New Lenox	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Glen Ellyn	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Lake in the Hills	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Galesburg	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Burbank	Mar 13 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Danville	Mar 24 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Lansing	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Lockport	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Wilmette	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Round Lake Beach	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Vernon Hills	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Granite City	Mar 7 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Oak Forest	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Yorkville	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Batavia	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Chicago Heights	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Edwardsville	Mar 7 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Woodstock	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
South Elgin	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Belvidere	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
West Chicago	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Alton	Mar 7 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Homer Glen	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Morton Grove	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Zion	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Westmont	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Melrose Park	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Collinsville	Mar 11 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Loves Park	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Rolling Meadows	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Elmwood Park	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Lisle	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Kankakee	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Maywood	Mar 14 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Freeport	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Machesney Park	Apr 3 to Apr 10	May 15 to May 29	May 15 to May 29	May 1
Roselle	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Bloomingdale	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
East Peoria	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Darien	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Montgomery	Mar 22 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Villa Park	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Carbondale	Mar 12 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 9
Blue Island	Mar 13 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Frankfort	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Grayslake	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Geneva	Mar 28 to Apr 4	May 9 to May 23	May 9 to May 23	Apr 25
Park Forest	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
South Holland	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Libertyville	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Crest Hill	Mar 23 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Dolton	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
East Moline	Mar 19 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Illinois?

In Chicago, plant out from April 24 to May 8. Across Illinois the window opens between April 18 and May 15, 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 Illinois

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Illinois