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Crop Planting Dates in California

Published planting and harvest windows for 11 crops in California, in one calendar. Ranges only, with sources.

Windows in California
CropPlantingHarvest
Alfalfa hayFeb 15 to Nov 20
CornPlanting: Mar 15 to Jul 15Sep 1 to Nov 15
CottonPlanting: Apr 1 to May 15Oct 5 to Nov 20
Durum wheatPlanting: Sep 25 to Feb 1May 20 to Aug 1
Fall barleyPlanting: Sep 15 to Apr 30May 15 to Aug 15
Fall oatsPlanting: Sep 15 to Mar 15Jun 15 to Sep 15
RicePlanting: Apr 20 to Jun 10Sep 5 to Nov 10
Spring barleyPlanting: Feb 20 to May 15Aug 15 to Oct 1
Spring oatsPlanting: Feb 20 to May 30Aug 15 to Oct 1
SunflowersPlanting: Mar 21 to Aug 1Jun 1 to Oct 1
Winter wheatPlanting: Sep 25 to Feb 1May 20 to Jul 15

Calendar view

Planting calendar for California
ItemJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Alfalfa hay harvestHarvest window in FebruaryHarvest window in MarchHarvest window in AprilHarvest window in MayHarvest window in JuneHarvest window in JulyHarvest window in AugustHarvest window in SeptemberHarvest window in OctoberHarvest window in November
Corn plantingPlanting window in MarchPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window, most active in MayPlanting window, most active in JunePlanting window, most active in July
Corn harvestHarvest window in SeptemberHarvest window, most active in OctoberHarvest window, most active in November
Cotton plantingPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window, most active in May
Cotton harvestHarvest window, most active in OctoberHarvest window, most active in November
Durum wheat plantingPlanting window, most active in JanuaryPlanting window in FebruaryPlanting window in SeptemberPlanting window, most active in OctoberPlanting window, most active in NovemberPlanting window, most active in December
Durum wheat harvestHarvest window in MayHarvest window, most active in JuneHarvest window, most active in JulyHarvest window in August
Fall barley plantingPlanting window, most active in JanuaryPlanting window, most active in FebruaryPlanting window, most active in MarchPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window in SeptemberPlanting window, most active in OctoberPlanting window, most active in NovemberPlanting window, most active in December
Fall barley harvestHarvest window in MayHarvest window, most active in JuneHarvest window, most active in JulyHarvest window in August
Fall oats plantingPlanting window, most active in JanuaryPlanting window, most active in FebruaryPlanting window, most active in MarchPlanting window in SeptemberPlanting window, most active in OctoberPlanting window, most active in NovemberPlanting window, most active in December
Fall oats harvestHarvest window in JuneHarvest window, most active in JulyHarvest window, most active in AugustHarvest window, most active in September
Rice plantingPlanting window in AprilPlanting window, most active in MayPlanting window in June
Rice harvestHarvest window, most active in SeptemberHarvest window, most active in OctoberHarvest window, most active in November
Spring barley plantingPlanting window in FebruaryPlanting window, most active in MarchPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window, most active in May
Spring barley harvestHarvest window in AugustHarvest window, most active in SeptemberHarvest window in October
Spring oats plantingPlanting window in FebruaryPlanting window, most active in MarchPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window, most active in May
Spring oats harvestHarvest window in AugustHarvest window, most active in SeptemberHarvest window in October
Sunflowers plantingPlanting window in MarchPlanting window, most active in AprilPlanting window, most active in MayPlanting window in JunePlanting window in JulyPlanting window in August
Sunflowers harvestHarvest window in JuneHarvest window, most active in JulyHarvest window, most active in AugustHarvest window in SeptemberHarvest window in October
Winter wheat plantingPlanting window, most active in JanuaryPlanting window in FebruaryPlanting window in SeptemberPlanting window, most active in OctoberPlanting window, most active in NovemberPlanting window, most active in December
Winter wheat harvestHarvest window in MayHarvest window, most active in JuneHarvest window, most active in July
Frost-date caveat: published dates are averages. Find your own last and first frost dates and compare them with these ranges before you plant.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Source: USDA NASS, Field Crops Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates (October 2010 edition, copy hosted by Cornell University Mann Library). Dates are the usual start and end of the period when about 5% to 95% of the crop is planted or harvested, from long-run state progress data. They are historic averages, not a forecast.