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When to Plant Honeydew in Burnett County, WI

Burnett County, Wisconsin Zone 4a April

April in Burnett County, Wisconsin — your action list

Each item below is timed to Burnett County, Wisconsin's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 27
Soil temp (4") 34°F
Watering None
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs

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Honeydew melons have smooth, pale green rinds and sweet, light green flesh. They require a long, warm growing season and are slightly more heat-tolerant than cantaloupe.

Burnett County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 135 days.

At an elevation of 574 feet, Burnett County receives approximately 30.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Honeydew to ensure they mature before fall.

Burnett County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
135 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
135 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Burnett County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 29 – Oct 10
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Sep 4 – Oct 16
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 27 🍅 Harvest: Sep 19 – Oct 31

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Burnett County

How your county's soil matches Honeydew's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.3) overlaps with Honeydew's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Burnett County is excellent for Honeydew — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Honeydew.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — Honeydew will thrive.

How to Plant Honeydew

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 422 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Honeydew

Honeydew needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Honeydew Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Burnett County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Honeydew Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Honeydew needs ~879 GDD — county provides 1,248 GDD Excellent fit

Honeydew Planting Timeline — Burnett County, WI

Honeydew Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 12 Jun 12 – Jun 26
Harvest September 4 Sep 4 – Oct 16

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

135 days in Burnett County

Growing Tips for Honeydew in Burnett County

Direct sow Honeydew outdoors after May 15 in Burnett County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Honeydew in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before transplanting. Plant on raised mounds of rich soil. Harvest when the blossom end gives slightly when pressed and the skin turns creamy yellow.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Honeydew in Burnett County, WI?

Burnett County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Honeydew planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Burnett County, WI?

Burnett County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 27.

🌱

Your Burnett County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Burnett County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Burnett County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.