Cotton Planting Dates in Oklahoma

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	May 2 to Jun 18 usual (most active May 11 to Jun 10)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Oct 4 to Dec 24 usual (most active Oct 15 to Dec 9)	source	2026-11-11

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

What these dates mean in Oklahoma

Planting usually runs about 48 days, from May 2 to Jun 18.

That start date is about 12 days later than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report cotton planting dates (Apr 20).

Harvest usually runs about 82 days, from Oct 4 to Dec 24.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 155 days in Oklahoma, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

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

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.