Sweet sorghum unlike grain sorghum has potential to accumulate sugars in its fresh stalks similar to sugarcane. In comparison, short duration and lower water requirements of sweet sorghum are other advantages over sugarcane. Ethanol yield potential of sweet sorghum cultivars was assessed at different dates of sowing in monsoon season in order to determine their economic feasibility for commercial production. This study was conducted to determine suitable time of planting of sweet sorghum during Kharif season and experiment was conducted at experimental farm of College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India to evaluate the effects of different planting dates on fresh stalks yield, juice yield, sugar content and ethanol yield of sweet sorghum in Kharif-2015, 2016 and 2017. Three varieties SSV84, SSV74 and CSV-19-SS and one hybrid CSH-22-SS were evaluated at five different planting dates (June 1, June 16, July 1, July 16 and July 31). Plant height, fresh stalk yield, juice yield and ethanol yield were affected on different planting dates. For all the characteristics, the maximum value was obtained by the first planting date. The performance of cultivars showed that hybrid CSH-22 SS is best for all the parameters followed by SSV74. Interaction studies of dates of sowing and cultivars for ethanol yield and TSI showed significantly highest ethanol yield while TSI was recorded highest for hybrid CSH-22 SS in all the dates of sowing followed by SSV74 and SSV84. The study thus recommends hybrid CSH-22 SS as the most suitable cultivar not only for normal planting but also for late planting for achieving the highest ethanol yield. Total sugars and predicted ethanol production were influenced by different planting dates but the degree of the effects depended on the cultivars which planted. Overall a June planting date at this location is preferable due to consistently higher values for the yield components.