The vegetation cycle is a period of active growth and development of a plant from seed germination or the beginning of the growing season to the full ripening of fruits or the death of the aerial part. This cycle includes the phases of germination, growth of shoots and leaves, budding, flowering, fruiting and completion of the life cycle.

The duration of the growing season depends on the type of plant, climatic conditions and agricultural techniques. In annual crops, it can take from several weeks to several months, while in perennial plants, the vegetation phases repeat annually.