How to Grow Upland Cotton
Upland Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
vegetableUpland cotton is a warm-season annual crop grown primarily for its fiber used in textiles. It produces white, fluffy bolls containing seeds surrounded by commercially valuable lint. The plant grows 3-6 feet tall with lobed leaves and cream to yellow flowers that develop into seed pods.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8-10 with long, warm growing seasons (150+ frost-free days)
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Growth Stages
Germination & Seedling
10-14 daysSeeds sprout and develop cotyledons (seed leaves) and first true leaves. Plant remains low to ground with 2-4 true leaves visible.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to desired spacing. Protect from cold (soil should be 60°F+ for germination).
Vegetative Growth
30-45 daysPlant develops multiple stems and branches with large lobed leaves. Vigorous upward growth; no flowers present yet.
Monitor for pests like spider mites and whiteflies. Apply balanced fertilizer mid-stage. Provide consistent water and full sun.
Flowering
40-60 days (flowers appear over extended period)Cream or pale yellow flowers appear at branch tips. Flowers are short-lived (1-2 days), opening in morning and dropping by afternoon.
Reduce nitrogen to avoid excess vegetative growth. Maintain consistent moisture. Monitor for boll weevils and other flower/bud pests.
Boll Development & Maturation
45-60 daysFertilized flowers develop into green bolls that gradually enlarge. Bolls mature from green to brown, eventually splitting to expose white fluffy lint.
Reduce watering gradually as bolls mature. Avoid excess nitrogen. Scout regularly for boll rot in humid conditions.
Harvest Ready
Variable (depends on harvest timing)Bolls fully open with lint exposed, appearing as white fluffy masses. Plant may have dropped some leaves naturally.
Pick bolls when fully open and dry. Handle carefully to avoid leaf and stem fragments in lint.
Common Pests
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Scout regularly; use pheromone traps; remove infested bolls; apply approved insecticides if threshold exceeded; practice crop rotation
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Increase humidity; spray with water; apply miticides if severe; encourage natural predators
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Monitor with yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; use reflective mulch
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Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap; use neem oil; encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps
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Use row covers early season; apply spinosad or neem oil; plant trap crops
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and
Plant resistant varieties; ensure good drainage; practice crop rotation; avoid overhead watering
Uses
Cotton seed oil for cooking
CulinaryCotton seed oil extracted from seeds is used as a cooking oil and ingredient in processed foods. It is a major source of vegetable oil in global food production. [source]
Textile fiber production
HouseholdThe fluffy lint surrounding seeds is processed into yarn and woven into a wide variety of textiles including clothing, bedding, towels, and upholstery. Upland cotton accounts for the majority of commercial cotton production worldwide. [source]
Industrial and medical textiles
HouseholdCotton lint is used for medical applications including gauze, bandages, and sterile medical supplies. Industrial uses include filters, padding, and insulation materials. [source]
Animal feed supplement
HouseholdCottonseed meal (the protein-rich residue after oil extraction) is used as livestock feed and as a fertilizer due to its nitrogen content. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeCotton flowers attract native bees and other pollinators, contributing to local pollinator populations and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when bolls are fully open and lint is fluffy and white, typically 150-180 days after planting. Pick by hand, grasping the boll and pulling lint away from the seed pod. Harvest in dry conditions to prevent contamination. Multiple pickings may be necessary as bolls mature staggered throughout the season. Avoid mixing leaf fragments with lint.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most widely cultivated cotton species globally, accounting for approximately 90% of world cotton production.
- 🌱 A single cotton plant can produce 15-20 bolls, and it takes about 1.5 pounds of cotton fiber (lint) to make a standard cotton t-shirt.
- 🌱 Cotton flowers are short-lived and typically last only one day, opening in the morning and closing by afternoon—this is why they are sometimes called 'ephemeral flowers.'
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