Cotton Growth and Development

• Cotton has a complex plant structure, which can make it a very challenging crop to understand and manage throughout the
growing season.
• Cotton plants follow a set pattern of growth according to accumulated heat units (DD60s); however, sensitivity to varying
environmental conditions can affect development.
• Understanding cotton growth and development can help build a foundation for proper crop management.

Calculating Heat Units • Favorable degree-day forecast for 5 days post planting with
expected heat unit accumulation of approximately 25-50 DD60s.
Cotton growth stages may be calculated by the number of days after • Soil at planting depth should be warm and moist. By mid-morning,
emergence, or more accurately, by the number of heat units accumulated. the soil temperature should be at least 68° F at the desired planting
In cotton, little to no development occurs below 60° F, so to calculate heat depth for 3 consecutive days.3
units (DD60s), add the maximum and minimum temperatures for the day, • Seed should be planted 0.5 to 1.5 inches deep depending on the soil
divide by 2 (to find the average), and subtract this number by 60. Total texture and moisture. For coarse soils, seed should be planted in
accumulation of DD60s can help determine the growth stage of a cotton moisture. Shallow planting can result in poor seed-to-soil contact
crop (Table 1).1 and deep planting can delay emergence and cause skippy stands.
Confirm depth by digging up seeds after planting 50 to 100 ft of row.
Table 1. Cotton growth stages indicated by the accumulation of
days and DD60s.
  Days DD60s Early Vegetative Growth
Vegetative growth includes development categorized by leaves or nodes.
From planting to 4-10 50-60 Cotton has an indeterminate growth habit allowing plants to grow very tall
emergence and heavy with vegetation if not managed.
From emergence to 21-27  300-340 
1st fruiting branch 1st true leaf. Emerges about 50
DD60s (or in 3 to 7 days) after
From emergence to 27-38  425-475  seedling establishment, shifting
1st square the plant’s energy source from
From emergence to 50-60  825-875  cotyledons to 1st leaf emerging.
1st white bloom
From emergence to 85-95  1385-1435  Main stem leaves. The first
peak bloom structures to appear on the main
stem.
From emergence to 105-115  1700-1750 
open boll Nodes. Points of attachment Figure 1. Cotton seed germination and
From emergence to 135-145  2180-2230  where leaves and branches form early seed development. 
60% open bolls (Figure 2). A new node is Source: The University of Georgia.
produced by the apical meristem
® 
 Source: Monitoring cotton growth. 2013. Deltapine Cotton Management an average of every 3 days.
Guide. https://www.aganytime.com/.
Leaves. Leaves produced from the main stem are called main stem leaves
and leaves located on fruiting branches are called subtending leaves.
Emergence and Stand Establishment
Emergence typically occurs 4 to 14 days after planting, or after the Branch Development
accumulation of 50 DD60s.2 Seedling establishment is complete once the Cotton plants develop 2 types of branches: vegetative and fruiting.
cotyledons emerge through the soil and unfold to expose the epicotyls and
apical meristem (Figure 1). Vegetative branches. Straight growing branches with the main purpose of
producing energy through photosynthesis. Mainstem and other vegetative
To help optimize cotton stand establishment, consider the following: branches typically form on lower nodes.

• Seed quality (germination test results of at least 80%).

Cotton Growth and Development

Fruiting branches. early-bloom, the mainstem will continue to grow and add new leaves,
Branches that grow in nodes, and squares. As more bolls are set, the plant’s energy is diverted
zigzag pattern and contain from vegetative growth to the boll formation.
multiple meristems and
form fruiting buds. The Nodes above white flower (NAWF). During flowering, cotton plant
first fruiting branch will development may also be categorized in terms of NAWF This measurement
typically form at mainstem is taken by the number of nodes separating the uppermost first position
node 5 or 6. New fruiting bloom and the terminal of the plant. At first bloom there may be 9 or 10
branches develop about NAWF, and the number decreases as blooms continue to form up the plant.
every 3 days and squares Flower development will eventually slow and cutout occurs at 4 or 5 NAWF
form at new positions on Figure 2. Cotton branch and stem structure.
when no more harvestable fruit is set on the plant.
Source: The University of Georgia.
fruiting branches every 6
days.
Boll Development
Reproductive Growth
Reproductive growth is characterized by square development and node
location on the plant.

Square development. The

square (pre-bloom flower Figure 5. Development of a cotton boll. 
bud) forms at the initiation Source: The University of Georgia.
of a fruiting branch.
Under optimum conditions a boll requires about 50 days to open.
First square position. he fibers are very sensitive to environmental conditions during boll
This is the location where development. The 3 phases of boll development are as follows:
the first square is
produced. As a square Enlargement. The fibers produced on the seed begin to elongate and the
develops, the section of Figure 3. Cotton bud development from a
pinhead square (a) to white bloom (e).  maximum volume of the boll and seeds are set. The fibers during this
the branch between the stage are a thin-walled tubular structure. This phase typically lasts 3
Source: The University of Georgia.
main stem and square weeks.
elongates and an auxiliary meristem also develops on the branch adjacent
to the square. The auxiliary meristem will produce a second position
Filling. The filling phase begins during the 4th week after flowering. The
square and a subtending leaf. The first square typically forms on nodes 5
secondary walls of the cotton fiber will form, a process also known as
to 7.
deposition. This phase continues for 2 weeks.
Cotton bud formation. It takes 3 to 4 weeks from square until bloom.
Maturation. This phase begins when the boll reaches full size and
There are several development stages of a cotton bud (Figure 3).
maximum weight. The fiber and seeds within the boll mature and boll
dehiscence occurs. The walls of the boll dry and split, opening the boll.
Pinhead square (a). The first stage the square can be identified.
Sources
Match-head square (b). When the bud is about 1/3 grown. 1 Advancing Cotton Education. Growth and development of a cotton plant. National Cotton
Council and The Cotton Foundation. http://www.cotton.org/.
Candle (d). Just prior to bloom, and shaped like a candle. 2 Ritchie, G.L., Bednarz, C.W., Jost, P.H., and Brown, S.M. 2007. Cotton growth and
development. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Bulletin 1252. 
3 Main, C. L. 2012. Cotton production in Tennessee. University of Tennessee Extension.
White bloom (e). Once
W288. http://www.utcrops.com/. 
the bud blooms. The Web sources verified 03/01/16. 120918013703
flowering period typically
lasts 4 to 6 weeks.

Bloom growth continues

reproductive development
and is characterized in
terms of weeks of bloom
(Figure 4). When a bloom For additional agronomic information, please contact your local seed representative. Individual
first opens, the flower is results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year.
white and pollination may Figure 4. Development of a cotton bloom.  This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather
occur within hours of Source: The University of Georgia. conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever
opening. By Day 2, the possible. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. All other
flower will have a pink tint and turn red by Day 3. The flower will dry up trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2016 Monsanto Company. 120918013703
and fall off the plant between Days 5-7, exposing a fertilized boll. During 030116MEC