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Herbs, Flowers & Specialty CropsHemp Planting Calendar
Industrial hemp can be grown for fiber, grain or other purposes, but only under licensing and testing rules. The calendar starts with paperwork, not planting.
Key points
- Get your state license and confirm federal rules before buying seed.
- Choose a crop purpose and variety suited to your region.
- Seed after soils warm and hard frost danger has passed.
- Plan for testing windows and records from the start.
What must you do before planting hemp?
Hemp production is regulated under federal law and state programs, and rules vary. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service materials describe the federal framework, and state departments of agriculture, such as Kansas, publish their own licensing information. Contact your state department of agriculture first. Licensing, approved seed sources, sampling and testing timelines can all affect when you are allowed to plant and harvest.
This guide covers licensed industrial hemp only. It does not cover cannabis and offers no guidance beyond licensed industrial hemp basics.
Because rules have changed over the years and differ among states, rely on the current version of your state program page and ask your extension office to confirm any detail that affects your timing.
What crop purpose shapes the calendar?
Hemp grown for fiber, grain or other products follows different management and harvest timing. Penn State Extension, Missouri Extension and ATTRA describe these production types and note that varieties matter. Decide your purpose and market before choosing a variety, since planting date, density and harvest stage depend on it.
Ask your extension office which varieties have been evaluated in your region.
Give extra thought to weed control, since hemp seedlings are slow at first and few herbicides are labeled for the crop. Many growers prepare a clean, firm seedbed and plan cultivation or other methods allowed under their program. Check each practice against your state program rules and any label restrictions. If something goes wrong with a planting, such as a failed stand or an unexpected test result, contact your state licensing authority promptly, since rules for destruction, resampling and reporting are set by the program and can have deadlines.
When should hemp be seeded?
Hemp is generally seeded in spring once soils have warmed and the risk of hard frost has passed. Extension publications describe soil temperature and seedbed conditions as the main cues. Check the planting window recommended by your state or regional extension publication, and compare with your own frost dates.
For example, if your soil has not yet warmed and cold, wet weather is forecast, waiting a few days is usually better than seeding into poor conditions.
Soil temperature, rainfall and weed pressure at planting all affect stand establishment. A field that is too cold or wet at seeding often needs replanting, which costs seed and time, so build slack into the licensed planting window if your license sets one.
How do you prepare the field?
Hemp needs a well-prepared seedbed and well-drained soil. Waterlogged fields cause poor stands. Use a soil test and local recommendations to plan fertility, and remember that nutrient management rules vary by state. Weed control before and soon after emergence matters because seedlings are slow at first.
Herbicide options for hemp are limited and depend on current labels and state rules. Ask your extension office and follow only labels that include hemp.
- Test soil and drainage before committing a field.
- Confirm seed source and variety with your licensing authority.
- Plan weed control before planting.
What happens between planting and harvest?
Scouting for weeds, pests and disease, along with water management, are the main tasks. Extension publications describe growth stages and when to expect flowering, which depends on variety and day length.
Keep records of planting date, emergence, field inputs and observations. These support regulatory reporting and your own planning.
Day length affects flowering in hemp, so variety choice and planting date interact. Ask the extension office or the seed supplier about the flowering behavior of your variety in your latitude.
How do testing and harvest timing interact?
Licensed programs commonly require sampling and testing before harvest, within a window set by the program. This can limit when you can cut. Learn the rules and the lab arrangements before planting so that your harvest timing is not a surprise. Harvest equipment, drying and storage should also be planned in advance.
What business and risk checks are wise?
Confirm a buyer or processing arrangement before planting. Contact the USDA Risk Management Agency and a crop insurance agent to ask whether hemp coverage is available in your county, and your Farm Service Agency office about reporting requirements. These offices explain current rules better than any general guide.
Finally, keep copies of every license, test result and sales document in one place. Rules can change from year to year, and having clear records makes it easier to renew a license, answer questions from inspectors and plan the next season with confidence.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.