Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Rich soil enriched with plenty of compost.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Cannot tolerate frost.
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Feeding
Mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting cotton. In midsummer when flowering begins, topdress with more fertilizer or drench with a liquid plant food.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 11" (60cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 3' 3" (1.00m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Sow directly when the soil is warm. In cooler climates start seed indoors and transplant out after the last frost, being careful not to disturb the roots. Water very well before planting.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Cotton thrives on heat, but does not respond well to overwatering. In cool climates, grow individual cotton plants in large, dark-colored containers to increase root warmth.
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Harvesting
Harvest after bolls split open, during a period of dry weather. Cut cotton on long stems and dry in bunches, like herbs.
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Troubleshooting
Night-flying beetles often chew holes in cotton leaves, but this problem is mostly cosmetic.
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