When to plant watermelon in Minnesota

Plant out in Minneapolis

May 7–May 21

Across Minnesota the window opens between May 5 and May 28. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Minneapolis: Mar 26–Apr 2
Plant out, Minneapolis: May 7–May 21
Sow outdoors, Minneapolis: May 7–May 21
Last sowing for a harvest: Jun 24
Last frost, Minneapolis: Apr 23

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

MinneapolisMay 7–May 21

St. PaulMay 8–May 22

RochesterMay 14–May 28

BloomingtonMay 7–May 21

DuluthMay 28–Jun 11

Brooklyn ParkMay 14–May 28

WoodburyMay 10–May 24

LakevilleMay 11–May 25

PlymouthMay 13–May 27

BlaineMay 19–Jun 2

Maple GroveMay 14–May 28

St. CloudMay 21–Jun 4

EaganMay 7–May 21

BurnsvilleMay 11–May 25

Coon RapidsMay 19–Jun 2

Eden PrairieMay 7–May 21

Apple ValleyMay 16–May 30

EdinaMay 7–May 21

MinnetonkaMay 13–May 27

St. Louis ParkMay 13–May 27

ShakopeeMay 7–May 21

MoorheadMay 19–Jun 2

MankatoMay 14–May 28

Cottage GroveMay 7–May 21

MaplewoodMay 7–May 21

Inver Grove HeightsMay 8–May 22

RichfieldMay 7–May 21

RosevilleMay 12–May 26

AndoverMay 19–Jun 2

SavageMay 7–May 21

All 61 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Sow outdoors	Last frost
Minneapolis	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
St. Paul	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Rochester	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Bloomington	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Duluth	Apr 16 to Apr 23	May 28 to Jun 11	May 28 to Jun 11	May 14
Brooklyn Park	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Woodbury	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Lakeville	Mar 30 to Apr 6	May 11 to May 25	May 11 to May 25	Apr 27
Plymouth	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Blaine	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Maple Grove	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
St. Cloud	Apr 9 to Apr 16	May 21 to Jun 4	May 21 to Jun 4	May 7
Eagan	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Burnsville	Mar 30 to Apr 6	May 11 to May 25	May 11 to May 25	Apr 27
Coon Rapids	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Eden Prairie	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Apple Valley	Apr 4 to Apr 11	May 16 to May 30	May 16 to May 30	May 2
Edina	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Minnetonka	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
St. Louis Park	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Shakopee	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Moorhead	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Mankato	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Cottage Grove	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Maplewood	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Inver Grove Heights	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Richfield	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Roseville	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Andover	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Savage	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Rosemount	Apr 4 to Apr 11	May 16 to May 30	May 16 to May 30	May 2
Brooklyn Center	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Fridley	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Oakdale	Mar 29 to Apr 5	May 10 to May 24	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Chaska	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Ramsey	Apr 6 to Apr 13	May 18 to Jun 1	May 18 to Jun 1	May 4
Prior Lake	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Elk River	Apr 6 to Apr 13	May 18 to Jun 1	May 18 to Jun 1	May 4
Shoreview	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Austin	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Owatonna	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Winona	Mar 24 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Chanhassen	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Farmington	Mar 30 to Apr 6	May 11 to May 25	May 11 to May 25	Apr 27
Faribault	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Otsego	Apr 6 to Apr 13	May 18 to Jun 1	May 18 to Jun 1	May 4
White Bear Lake	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Lino Lakes	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Champlin	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
Hastings	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
St. Michael	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Columbia Heights	Mar 26 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Crystal	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
New Brighton	Mar 31 to Apr 7	May 12 to May 26	May 12 to May 26	Apr 28
Willmar	Apr 2 to Apr 9	May 14 to May 28	May 14 to May 28	Apr 30
Northfield	Apr 7 to Apr 14	May 19 to Jun 2	May 19 to Jun 2	May 5
West St. Paul	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Golden Valley	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Forest Lake	Apr 5 to Apr 12	May 17 to May 31	May 17 to May 31	May 3
New Hope	Apr 1 to Apr 8	May 13 to May 27	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
South St. Paul	Mar 27 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, plant out from May 7 to May 21. Across Minnesota the window opens between May 5 and May 28, 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 Minnesota

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota