When to plant watermelon in Wisconsin

Watermelon
Plant out in Milwaukee
May 10–May 24

Across Wisconsin the window opens between May 3 and May 21. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 5
Plant out, Milwaukee
May 10–May 24
Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
May 10–May 24
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 26
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

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
MilwaukeeMay 10–May 24
MadisonMay 15–May 29
Green BayMay 21–Jun 4
KenoshaMay 12–May 26
RacineMay 4–May 18
AppletonMay 18–Jun 1
Eau ClaireMay 8–May 22
WaukeshaMay 15–May 29
OshkoshMay 8–May 22
JanesvilleMay 10–May 24
West AllisMay 10–May 24
La CrosseMay 11–May 25
SheboyganMay 9–May 23
WauwatosaMay 10–May 24
Fond du LacMay 11–May 25
BrookfieldMay 14–May 28
Menomonee FallsMay 20–Jun 3
WausauMay 20–Jun 3
New BerlinMay 17–May 31
Sun PrairieMay 15–May 29
Oak CreekMay 6–May 20
GreenfieldMay 17–May 31
FranklinMay 17–May 31
BeloitMay 15–May 29
ManitowocMay 14–May 28
FitchburgMay 15–May 29
West BendMay 15–May 29
Mount PleasantMay 4–May 18
NeenahMay 18–Jun 1
SuperiorMay 20–Jun 3
All 43 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
MadisonApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
Green BayApr 9 to Apr 16May 21 to Jun 4May 21 to Jun 4May 7
KenoshaMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
RacineMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
AppletonApr 6 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 4
Eau ClaireMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
WaukeshaApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
OshkoshMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
West AllisMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
La CrosseMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
SheboyganMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Menomonee FallsApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
WausauApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
New BerlinApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
Sun PrairieApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
Oak CreekMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
GreenfieldApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
FranklinApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
BeloitApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
ManitowocApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
FitchburgApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
West BendApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
Mount PleasantMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
NeenahApr 6 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 4
SuperiorApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
Stevens PointApr 6 to Apr 13May 18 to Jun 1May 18 to Jun 1May 4
MuskegoApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
De PereApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
MequonApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
MiddletonMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
WatertownMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
HowardApr 9 to Apr 16May 21 to Jun 4May 21 to Jun 4May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
GermantownApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
OnalaskaMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
OconomowocApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from May 10 to May 24. Across Wisconsin the window opens between May 3 and May 21, 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 Wisconsin

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin