Spring barley Planting Dates in California

Usual spring barley 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.

Spring barley dates in California
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Feb 20 to May 15 usual (most active Mar 1 to May 1)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Aug 15 to Oct 1 usual (most active Sep 1 to Sep 20)	source	2026-11-11

Spring barley calendar for California
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting		Planting window in February	Planting window, most active in March	Planting window, most active in April	Planting window, most active in May
Harvest								Harvest window in August	Harvest window, most active in September	Harvest window in October

What these dates mean in California

Planting usually runs about 85 days, from Feb 20 to May 15.

That start date is about 40 days earlier than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report spring barley planting dates (Apr 1).

Harvest usually runs about 48 days, from Aug 15 to Oct 1.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 176 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

Barley Planting Calendar

Spring barley 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.