The Best Time to Plant Cotton

Temperature

• Cotton prefers warm subtropical climates where temperatures stay between 60 and 90 degrees F. Cotton seed will germinate when the temperature is 65 degrees and once growing, prefers a temperature range in the 70 to 80 degrees. Fruiting of the cotton boll happens when temperatures are higher, 80 to 90 degrees.

Soil Temperature

• Virginia Extension advises planting cotton seed when the soil temperature is 65 degrees at a depth of 3 inches by 10 a.m. Once this temperature threshold is met, it is best to wait to plant until a five- to seven-day warming trend is predicted.

Rainfall

• Good irrigation and rainfall is necessary for cotton seed germination and plant growth. The perfect time to plant cotton is after spring rains have saturated the ground. If irrigation is available, then cotton can be planted at an earlier time in the drier parts of the Deep South.