Cotton Planting Dates in Arizona

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in Arizona, shown as ranges with their source. Use them to frame a plan, then adjust for your own frost dates and soil temperature.

Cotton dates in Arizona
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Mar 15 to May 15 usual (most active Apr 1 to Apr 30)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Sep 15 to Dec 25 usual (most active Oct 10 to Nov 10)	source	2026-11-11

Cotton calendar for Arizona
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting			Planting window in March	Planting window, most active in April	Planting window in May
Harvest									Harvest window in September	Harvest window, most active in October	Harvest window, most active in November	Harvest window in December

What these dates mean in Arizona

Planting usually runs about 62 days, from Mar 15 to May 15.

That start date is about 36 days earlier than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report cotton planting dates (Apr 20).

Harvest usually runs about 102 days, from Sep 15 to Dec 25.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 184 days in Arizona, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for Arizona. A northern or high-elevation site will run later than a southern or low one, and a cold wet spring can push planting past the window. Frost dates and local conditions vary; NASS state-level usual dates from 20-year progress data (Oct 2010 edition), begin ~5% and end ~95% complete. Check your last spring frost and soil temperature, and confirm with your county extension office.

Related guides

Cotton Planting Calendar

Cotton dates in other places

Other crops in Arizona

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.