Cotton Planting Calendar
Full-season cotton management calendar for southern US growers.
USDA zones: Zones 7-10
Month-by-month cotton schedule
- January — Planning: Select varieties, order seed and inputs
- February — Soil Prep: Deep tillage if needed, apply pre-plant fertilizer
- March — Burndown: Apply burndown herbicide, finalize beds
- April — Planting: Plant when soil temp is 65°F+ for 3 consecutive days
- May — Early Season: Apply pre-emerge herbicide, scout for thrips
- June — Squaring: Begin insect scouting, apply plant growth regulators
- July — Bloom: Peak water demand, irrigate consistently
- August — Boll Fill: Continue PGR, scout for bollworm and stinkbugs
- September — Open Bolls: Prepare for defoliation timing decisions
- October — Defoliation: Apply defoliant when 60-70% bolls open
- November — Harvest: Pick cotton, manage modules/round bales
- December — Post-harvest: Stalk destruction, soil sampling
Tips for growing cotton
- Soil temperature at planting depth is more reliable than air temperature
- Plant growth regulators are essential for managing excessive vegetative growth
- Defoliation timing impacts both lint quality and yield—don't rush it
- Late-season insect management protects your top crop bolls