Cotton Planting Dates in California

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in California, 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 California
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 1 to May 15 usual (most active Apr 10 to May 5)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Oct 5 to Nov 20 usual (most active Oct 10 to Nov 1)	source	2026-11-11

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

What these dates mean in California

Planting usually runs about 45 days, from Apr 1 to May 15.

That start date is about 19 days earlier than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report cotton planting dates (Apr 20).

Harvest usually runs about 47 days, from Oct 5 to Nov 20.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 187 days in California, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for California. 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 California

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.