Cotton Growing Guide

Gossypium hirsutum

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Soil rich in organic matter.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Cannot tolerate frost.

Feeding

Mulch the soil with compost before planting cotton. In midsummer when flowering begins, mulch again, or drench with a liquid plant food.

Spacing

Single Plants: 60cm (1' 11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 45cm (1' 5") with 1.00m (3' 3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow directly when the soil has warmed up to 16 to 18°C or higher for about ten days (usually in October and November). Water very well before planting. Cotton needs high temperatures and a long growing season to produce well and is commonly grown in the hotter regions of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Cotton thrives on heat, but does not respond well to overwatering.

Harvesting

Harvest after bolls split open, during a period of dry weather. Cut cotton on long stems and dry in bunches, like herbs.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Cotton

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail