How does an everyday person grow cotton?

I live near a lot of farms, and my freind gave me some cotton seeds. I love textiles, so I would love to grow maybe 20 seeds of cotton.

What type of soil? Sandy, top soil,

What type of soil amendments do I use, my husband is a landscaper so he can help me with this or I do it alone.

I have a small green house so I would start there, right?

Do I dead head flowers?



Please help, thanks, This is just a fun spring project for me.



Also, I live in north GA, is it time to plant now?

How does an everyday person grow cotton?
Give some seeds to a 1st grade class, let them put them in sandy soil, I use one gallon containers, have the children water and wait for them to come up, put out side in full hot sun. and they will form flowers, the bees will pollinate these flowers and cotton will form in the fruit ( boles) , which will have seeds, take the seeds out and start all over, I'm starting my cotton this week, I use it for my class room demo. on where our food, and clothes start from. The kids love this program. If necessary I will hand pollinate. I water well weekly and fertilize afterwards using a 0-10-10 formula. Hoyakins.
Reply:You need to call your county extension agent. I know in the past that you needed a permit to grow even that small amount of cotton. The fines were pretty stiff, so you may want to find out. My mother did not grow some because of this.
Reply:Cotton isn't difficult to grow. And, will grow in just about any soil found south of the Mason-Dixon line. It is a heat loving plant, so make sure the soil temperature is warm enough for germination. Our growing season is shorter here in the Texas Panhandle. Planting begins the first of May through about the middle to latter part of June.



I would plant your seeds in well cultivated, rich soil about 12-18 inches apart. Cultivate to prevent weeds and water as necessary. Don't worry about the blooms. Leave them alone! They will last only a few days and will form the cotton bolls later. Spray for insects if necessary , as you would for any other plant. In the Fall, the plants will begin to wither and die and the cotton bolls will open up. When the burrs harden and all of the cotton has opened, it is harvest time.



Do these things and you will be ready to pick cotton in the Fall!