Spring barley Planting Dates in Minnesota

Usual spring barley planting and harvest periods in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 15 to Jun 3 usual (most active Apr 23 to May 25)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Jul 26 to Sep 18 usual (most active Aug 1 to Sep 3)	source	2026-11-11

Spring barley calendar for Minnesota
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	Planting window in June
Harvest							Harvest window in July	Harvest window, most active in August	Harvest window, most active in September

What these dates mean in Minnesota

Planting usually runs about 50 days, from Apr 15 to Jun 3.

That start date is about 14 days later than the middle of the 17 places in this data set that report spring barley planting dates (Apr 1).

Harvest usually runs about 55 days, from Jul 26 to Sep 18.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 102 days in Minnesota, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

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

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.