Cropping Calendar in the Philippines: Seasonal Crop Guide

The cropping calendar in the Philippines is shaped by two distinct seasons that determine what farmers and home gardeners can grow. Understanding these seasonal patterns is essential for planning successive harvests and maximising your land's productivity throughout the year.

This guide covers the agricultural perspective on cropping cycles in the Philippines. For a home gardening focus with monthly planting recommendations, see our planting calendar or the vegetable planting calendar.

Philippine Cropping Seasons Overview

The Philippine cropping calendar revolves around two primary seasons driven by monsoon patterns:

• Wet Season Cropping (June to November) coincides with the southwest monsoon (habagat). Regular rainfall provides natural irrigation for water-dependent crops like rice. This is the primary cropping season for most Filipino farmers.
• Dry Season Cropping (December to May) relies on stored water, irrigation systems or manual watering. Farmers grow corn, vegetables, legumes and root crops. Subdivided into the cool dry period (December to February) and the hot dry period (March to May).

Most agricultural areas in the Philippines follow a two-crop rotation per year. Irrigated rice lands often achieve two rice harvests, while rainfed areas plant rice during the wet season and switch to vegetables or corn during the dry season.

Wet Season Crops (June to November)

The wet season is the traditional planting period for the Philippines. Natural rainfall reduces irrigation costs and supports water-intensive crops.

Major Wet Season Crops

• Rice (Palay) is the primary wet season crop. Seedbeds are prepared in May, transplanting occurs in June to July, and harvest runs from October to November. A typical wet season rice crop takes 110 to 120 days to mature.
• Corn (Mais) is planted from June to July in rainfed areas. Yellow corn for animal feed takes 100 to 110 days. Sweet corn for human consumption matures faster at 70 to 80 days.
• Kamote (Sweet Potato) thrives in the wet season. Plant vine cuttings from June to August and harvest tubers 3 to 4 months later.
• Gabi (Taro) needs waterlogged conditions and grows best from June to November. Harvest corms 6 to 8 months after planting.

Wet Season Vegetables

• Kangkong grows explosively during the rainy season. Harvest every 3 to 4 weeks by cutting above the second node.
• Sitaw (String Beans) climbs quickly on trellises during the early wet season. Plant from June to July for best results.
• Alugbati is a vining leafy green that thrives in heat and humidity. Produces nutritious leaves throughout the entire wet season.
• Saluyot grows vigorously from June to October. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is a staple green in Ilocos provinces.

Dry Season Crops (December to May)

Dry season cropping requires access to irrigation or manual watering. Despite the extra labour, dry season crops often command higher market prices because of reduced supply.

Cool Dry Period Crops (December to February)

• Lettuce and other salad greens grow best during the coolest months. Plant in November or December for a January to February harvest.
• Repolyo (Cabbage) forms tight heads during cool weather. Takes 60 to 90 days to mature.
• Carrots develop the sweetest roots during the cool dry season. Need loose, sandy loam soil and 70 to 80 days to harvest.
• Pechay grows quickly in cool weather, ready for harvest in 25 to 30 days.
• Bawang (Garlic) is traditionally planted in October to November and harvested in February to March. Needs dry conditions to form bulbs.

Hot Dry Period Crops (March to May)

• Kamatis (Tomato) produces its heaviest fruit loads during the sunny, dry months of March and April.
• Talong (Eggplant) thrives in high temperatures and produces for months with regular harvesting.
• Sili (Chili) grows vigorously in the heat and produces continuously once established.
• Okra loves heat and produces pods within 55 to 60 days of planting. Harvest every 2 days for tender pods.
• Melon and pakwan (watermelon) need full sun and dry conditions to produce sweet fruit. Best planted from March to April.

Rice Cropping Cycle

Rice remains the most important crop in the Philippines. The country follows either a single or double rice cropping system depending on water availability.

Irrigated Areas (Two Crops Per Year)

1. First Crop (Wet Season): Seedbed preparation in May, transplanting in June to July, harvest in October to November.
2. Second Crop (Dry Season): Seedbed preparation in November, transplanting in December to January, harvest in March to April.

Rainfed Areas (One Crop Per Year)

1. Single Crop (Wet Season): Planting depends entirely on the onset of rains, typically June to July. Harvest in November to December.
2. Fallow Period: Land rests from January to May. Many farmers plant short-duration vegetables or legumes during this fallow period to generate additional income.

Modern rice varieties developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) mature in 100 to 110 days, allowing tighter cropping cycles. Traditional varieties take 120 to 150 days but are valued for their flavour and resilience.

Corn Cropping Cycle

Corn is the second most important staple crop in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao. Two types are grown: yellow corn for animal feed and white corn for human consumption.

• First Cropping (Wet Season): Plant from June to July, harvest from September to October. Yellow corn takes 100 to 110 days. Sweet corn matures in 70 to 80 days.
• Second Cropping (Dry Season): Plant from November to December with irrigation, harvest from February to March.

Corn is often rotated with rice or intercropped with legumes like munggo to improve soil nitrogen levels and reduce fertiliser costs.

Vegetable Cropping Cycles

Vegetables offer the fastest returns and highest income per square metre. Filipino farmers typically grow 3 to 4 vegetable crops per year by using short-duration varieties and succession planting.

Fast Turnaround Crops (25 to 45 days)

• Kangkong (21 to 25 days)
• Pechay (25 to 30 days)
• Mustasa (28 to 35 days)
• Lettuce (30 to 45 days)

Medium Turnaround Crops (50 to 80 days)

• Okra (55 to 60 days to first harvest)
• Sitaw (50 to 60 days)
• Munggo (60 to 70 days)
• Pipino (55 to 65 days)

Long Turnaround Crops (90 to 150 days)

• Kamatis (90 to 100 days to first harvest)
• Talong (85 to 95 days)
• Kalabasa (90 to 120 days)
• Kamote (90 to 120 days)

Intercropping and Crop Rotation

Smart Filipino farmers use intercropping and rotation to maximise land productivity and maintain soil health. These strategies work equally well for small home gardens.

Effective Intercropping Combinations

• Corn + Munggo: Munggo fixes nitrogen that benefits the corn. Plant munggo between corn rows. Harvest munggo first, then corn.
• Kamatis + Basil: Basil repels tomato hornworms and improves tomato flavour. Plant basil around the base of tomato plants.
• Kalabasa + Kangkong: Squash vines provide ground cover while kangkong grows vertically. Both thrive in the same conditions.
• Fruit Trees + Root Crops: Young fruit trees can be underplanted with kamote or gabi until the canopy closes.

Basic Crop Rotation Schedule

1. Season 1: Fruiting crop (tomato, eggplant)
2. Season 2: Leafy green (kangkong, pechay)
3. Season 3: Legume (sitaw, munggo) to restore nitrogen
4. Season 4: Root crop (kamote, labanos)

This four-season rotation prevents soil nutrient depletion, breaks pest and disease cycles, and maintains high productivity without excessive fertiliser use. For more on maintaining soil health, read our soil guide.

Frequently Asked Questions