How to Grow Pima Foxfibre

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Pima Foxfibre

Gossypium barbadense var. Pima × Gossypium hirsutum (Foxfibre)

fiber crop

Pima Foxfibre is a specialty cotton hybrid combining the extra-long staple fibers of Pima cotton with naturally colored fibers from Foxfibre cotton, eliminating the need for synthetic dyes. This heirloom variety produces bolls containing brown, green, or cream-colored fibers that can be spun and woven into textiles without chemical processing. It is a warm-season annual crop grown primarily for fiber production.

When should you plant Pima Foxfibre in your zone?

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Example Pima Foxfibre timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Pima Foxfibre
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Pima Foxfibre
Around Sep 14

≈ 150 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pima Foxfibre dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, minimum 8-10 hours daily; more intense sunlight produces better fiber quality and color development

💧

Water: Moderate watering, 1-1.5 inches per week during growing season; keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering as plants mature and bolls develop for better fiber quality.

📏

Spacing: 18 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 150-180 days from planting to harvest-ready bolls

🌱

Planting depth: 0.5-1 inch for direct seeding; transplants should be set at soil line

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to sandy loam soil

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Balanced NPK fertilizer (cotton-specific formulations preferred) Compost or aged manure for organic matter Sulfur if soil pH is above 7.5 Boron and zinc micronutrients

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 8b-10a; requires 160+ frost-free days and warm temperatures for optimal fiber development

8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Germination & Seedling

2-3 weeks

Seeds emerge within 7-10 days; cotyledons unfold to reveal first true leaves. Seedlings are delicate and vulnerable to damping off.

Maintain warm soil (70-80°F); keep soil moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light or grow lights; thin seedlings to final spacing once they have 2-3 true leaves.

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development; plant grows 3-6 feet tall with increasingly large, palmate leaves. Root system establishes deeply.

Support with stakes if in windy areas; apply balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks; monitor for early pest establishment; prune lower suckers to encourage upright growth.

Flowering

4-6 weeks

Small, cream or pale yellow flowers appear in leaf axils; flowers last only one day before dropping, revealing developing fruit.

Maintain consistent soil moisture; reduce nitrogen to encourage fruiting over vegetative growth; watch for flower-feeding insects; light fertilization with phosphorus and potassium.

Boll Development & Maturation

4-6 weeks

Small green bolls enlarge over 4-6 weeks; bolls develop natural coloration (brown, green, or cream) and harden. Fiber fills the boll interior.

Minimize irrigation to concentrate sugars in fibers and deepen color; watch for boll weevils and other pests; avoid excessive nitrogen that delays maturation; monitor boll fill progress.

Harvest & Fiber Preparation

2-4 weeks (harvest window)

Bolls crack open naturally, revealing fiber clusters in their natural color. Fibers are ready for hand-picking and cleaning.

Hand-pick bolls when fully open; store picked fibers in dry conditions; clean bolls to remove seeds (cottonseeds can be saved); prepare for ginning or hand-processing.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Okra Cowpeas Marigold Nasturtium Lamb's quarters Buckwheat (as green manure)

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Tomatoes Potatoes Root vegetables in dense plantings Persistent pesticide-treated areas

Common Pests

Inspect buds daily and remove infested flowers; use pheromone traps; plant early-maturing varieties; practice crop rotation; consider organic neem oil if infestation is severe.
Hand-pick larvae from bolls; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays; encourage parasitic wasps; plant trap crops like corn nearby; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides.
Spray with strong water stream to dislodge mites; apply sulfur dust or neem oil; maintain consistent soil moisture to reduce stress; encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
Use yellow sticky traps; spray insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; maintain plant vigor; remove heavily infested leaves.
and (fungal)
Plant certified disease-free seeds; ensure excellent soil drainage; rotate crops; remove and destroy infected plants; avoid overhead watering.

Uses

🎨

Hand Spinning & Weaving

Craft

The long Pima staple and naturally colored Foxfibre fibers are ideal for hand spinners and textile artists creating undyed or naturally dyed fabrics. The fibers produce a strong, lustrous yarn with excellent drape. [source]

🍳

Cottonseed Byproduct

Culinary

While the primary use is fiber, cottonseeds can be saved and the oil extracted for cooking or cosmetic use, or seeds can be ground for animal feed supplementation. [source]

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Chemical-Free Textiles

Household

Natural fiber color eliminates the need for synthetic dyes, making it ideal for producing eco-friendly clothing, home textiles, and baby products without chemical processing. [source]

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Sustainable Fashion & Home Goods

Household

Creates durable, breathable fabrics for clothing, bedding, and upholstery that are entirely pesticide-free and require no synthetic dyes for color variety. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Cotton flowers attract bees and native pollinators, providing a seasonal nectar and pollen source while supporting beneficial insect populations in the garden. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest bolls by hand once they crack fully open and fibers are fluffy and dry to the touch. This typically occurs 4-6 weeks after flowers appear. Pick during dry weather to prevent fiber from absorbing moisture. Store cleaned, seed-free fibers in breathable containers in a cool, dry place. For best color retention, protect fibers from harsh sunlight before processing. Separate bolls by natural color (brown, green, cream) if you want to keep colors distinct for spinning.

Fun Facts

🌱 Foxfibre cotton was developed by Sally Fox in the 1980s by selective breeding of colored cotton varieties to produce naturally brown and green fibers without any genetic modification—making it one of the first commercially viable naturally colored cotton hybrids.
🌱 The natural brown and green colors in Pima Foxfibre are produced by carotenoid and melanin pigments in the fiber cell wall itself, not surface dyes, so the color never fades even after repeated washing and wearing.
🌱 A single mature cotton plant can produce 3-6 bolls, and each boll contains roughly 2,000-3,000 individual fibers, making hand-harvesting labor-intensive but rewarding for small-scale fiber artists and homesteaders.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Damping Off Full Sun Heirloom Hybrid pH Sucker True Leaves

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