Cotton Planting Dates in Louisiana

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 17 to May 26 usual (most active Apr 24 to May 17)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Sep 14 to Nov 6 usual (most active Sep 23 to Oct 23)	source	2026-11-11

Cotton calendar for Louisiana
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 September	Harvest window, most active in October	Harvest window in November

What these dates mean in Louisiana

Planting usually runs about 40 days, from Apr 17 to May 26.

That start date is about 3 days earlier than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report cotton planting dates (Apr 20).

Harvest usually runs about 54 days, from Sep 14 to Nov 6.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 150 days in Louisiana, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

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

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.