Cotton Planting Dates in North Carolina

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 20 to Jun 1 usual (most active May 1 to May 20)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Sep 30 to Dec 15 usual (most active Oct 10 to Nov 15)	source	2026-11-11

Cotton calendar for North Carolina
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting				Planting window in April	Planting window, most active in May	Planting window in June
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 North Carolina

Planting usually runs about 43 days, from Apr 20 to Jun 1.

That start date is close to the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report cotton planting dates (Apr 20).

Harvest usually runs about 77 days, from Sep 30 to Dec 15.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 163 days in North Carolina, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for North Carolina. 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 North Carolina

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.