Cotton Planting Dates in Virginia

Usual cotton planting and harvest periods in Virginia, 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 Virginia
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 23 to May 16 usual (most active Apr 25 to May 11)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Sep 30 to Nov 27 usual (most active Oct 8 to Nov 20)	source	2026-11-11

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

What these dates mean in Virginia

Planting usually runs about 24 days, from Apr 23 to May 16.

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

Harvest usually runs about 59 days, from Sep 30 to Nov 27.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 160 days in Virginia, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

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

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.