Cotton Planting Calendar

Cotton is a long-season, heat-loving crop, and a cold, wet start can set it back for the whole year.

Key points

Cotton seedlings need warm soil and a stable forecast.
NASS windows run from April in Texas to late May in Georgia and Kansas.
Use frost dates, not hardiness zones, to judge season length.
Check state programs and insurance planting dates before you plant.

What does cotton need to get started?

Cotton seedlings are sensitive to cold. Planting into cool or saturated soil can cause poor emergence and seedling disease. Extension programs generally recommend waiting for the soil to warm and for a stable forecast, and many give a specific soil temperature and a set of warm days to look for. Use the number from your own state source.

Measure soil temperature in the morning at seed depth for several days in a row. If a cold front is coming, wait. Replanting costs money and time, and it can push the crop later into the season when yield potential is lower.

When is the usual cotton planting window?

USDA NASS lists the most active planting periods in the October 2010 edition as about April 8 to June 7 in Texas, about May 2 to May 31 in Georgia, about April 30 to May 23 in Arkansas, about April 27 to May 19 in Mississippi and about April 10 to May 5 in California. Texas has the widest range because the state includes very different regions, from the Rio Grande Valley to the Panhandle.

Most states plant cotton from late April into May. Kansas and Oklahoma plant later because their springs are cooler. A long window in a state does not mean any date will work; it means different areas plant at different times.

Most Mid-South and Southeast planting runs late April through May
Cooler northern edges plant later
Texas plantings span many months because of climate differences

How does frost risk shape your cotton plan?

Cotton needs a long season, so growers want to plant early enough to mature before fall frost. But a late spring frost on emerged seedlings is a real risk. Look up your average last spring frost and first fall frost from your local National Weather Service office or NOAA data. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows winter lows and does not give frost dates.

For example, if your first fall frost usually comes in late October, a planting delay of two or three weeks may be acceptable with the right variety. If it comes in early October, that delay may cost yield. Ask your extension cotton specialist for guidance on varieties by maturity.

How does moisture affect cotton planting?

Good stands need moisture at planting. In dry regions, growers may irrigate to activate seed, or plant into stored moisture after rain. In wet regions, the risk is too much water, which can lead to crusting, erosion or seedling diseases. Ask extension about practices that reduce crusting and protect stands on your soil type.

If you irrigate, check local water rules and reporting requirements. These vary by state, aquifer and district.

What other programs or rules might apply?

Some states run pest management or eradication programs for cotton, and they may have rules about stalk destruction dates or reporting. Ask your state department of agriculture and your extension office what applies in your county. Crop insurance sets final planting dates for cotton, which vary by county, so talk to your agent and check USDA Risk Management Agency materials before you plan.

For pest control, follow label directions, observe pre-harvest intervals and check state applicator licensing rules. Protect pollinators by following label directions about timing.

What are the common mistakes with cotton planting?

Planting into cold soil to get ahead is the classic mistake. Another is ignoring field drainage and planting too early into a wet area. A third is choosing a variety without checking local trial results. Seed is a large cost for cotton, so a failed stand hurts.

Keep records of planting dates, varieties and emergence. Over a few seasons, you will learn which fields warm early and which lag.

Planting before the soil is warm
Ignoring drainage on heavy fields
Skipping local variety trial data

How does cotton timing connect to harvest and defoliation?

Cotton is picked late in the year, and NASS shows harvest running into November and December in many states. The crop is usually treated so leaves drop before picking, and that timing depends on maturity and weather, so an early planting date can bring the whole schedule forward. Extension programs teach how to judge maturity in the field by examining bolls and plant development.

If you hire a custom picker or ginner, talk to them early. Their schedules fill quickly, and your planting date will influence when your fields are ready. Any harvest-aid product must be used according to its label, and applicator licensing and pre-harvest interval rules apply. Ask extension for current recommendations for your state.

Timing at a glance

Timing ranges for this topic
Item	Window	Caveat
Cotton, Texas	Most active planting from about April 8 to June 7	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Cotton, Georgia	Most active planting from about May 2 to May 31	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Cotton, Arkansas	Most active planting from about April 30 to May 23	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Cotton, California	Most active planting from about April 10 to May 5	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.

When to get local help: Ask your county extension cotton specialist, your state department of agriculture and your crop insurance agent about local timing and rules.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.

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