Spring barley Planting Dates in Colorado

Usual spring barley planting and harvest periods in Colorado, 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 Colorado
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Mar 14 to May 16 usual (most active Mar 26 to May 5)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Jul 20 to Sep 14 usual (most active Jul 29 to Sep 6)	source	2026-11-11

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

What these dates mean in Colorado

Planting usually runs about 64 days, from Mar 14 to May 16.

That start date is about 18 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 57 days, from Jul 20 to Sep 14.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 128 days in Colorado, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

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

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.