When to plant watermelon in Indiana

Watermelon
Plant out in Indianapolis
May 4–May 18

Across Indiana the window opens between April 12 and May 13. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Indianapolis
Mar 23–Mar 30
Plant out, Indianapolis
May 4–May 18
Sow outdoors, Indianapolis
May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 29
Last frost, Indianapolis
Apr 20

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
IndianapolisMay 4–May 18
Fort WayneMay 8–May 22
EvansvilleApr 12–Apr 26
CarmelMay 5–May 19
FishersMay 5–May 19
South BendMay 7–May 21
BloomingtonApr 29–May 13
NoblesvilleMay 5–May 19
HammondMay 7–May 21
LafayetteMay 10–May 24
GreenwoodMay 4–May 18
GaryMay 6–May 20
WestfieldMay 5–May 19
MuncieApr 30–May 14
KokomoMay 11–May 25
Terre HauteApr 29–May 13
AndersonMay 3–May 17
JeffersonvilleApr 14–Apr 28
ElkhartMay 10–May 24
ColumbusApr 25–May 9
MishawakaMay 7–May 21
LawrenceMay 2–May 16
West LafayetteMay 10–May 24
PortageMay 6–May 20
PlainfieldApr 26–May 10
New AlbanyApr 14–Apr 28
MerrillvilleMay 6–May 20
Crown PointMay 13–May 27
RichmondMay 8–May 22
ValparaisoMay 6–May 20
All 49 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
IndianapolisMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Fort WayneMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
EvansvilleMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
CarmelMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
FishersMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
South BendMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
BloomingtonMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
NoblesvilleMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
HammondMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
LafayetteMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
GreenwoodMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
GaryMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
WestfieldMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
MuncieMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
KokomoMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
Terre HauteMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
AndersonMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
JeffersonvilleMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
ElkhartMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
ColumbusMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
MishawakaMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
LawrenceMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
West LafayetteMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
PortageMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
PlainfieldMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
New AlbanyMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
MerrillvilleMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
Crown PointApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
RichmondMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
ValparaisoMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
GoshenMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
BrownsburgMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
ZionsvilleMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Michigan CityMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
GrangerMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
ScherervilleMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
HobartMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
MarionMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
FranklinMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
GreenfieldMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
East ChicagoMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
AvonMar 15 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
St. JohnMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
MunsterMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
HighlandMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
La PorteMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
SeymourMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ClarksvilleMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
ShelbyvilleMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, plant out from May 4 to May 18. Across Indiana the window opens between April 12 and May 13, 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 Indiana

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana