Cotton planting in Texas.
Cotton planting in Texas is shaped by the state's 8b dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around March 15, and a 245-day growing season. Cotton is widely grown in Texas — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for variety- and county-specific guidance.
Planting calendar — 2026
Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.
Planting windows
Spring planting
CottonHarvest window
Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.
Growing notes
Cotton grows well in Texas's typical climate. Texas's 245-day growing season and 8b hardiness zone support reliable production with appropriate variety selection.
Cotton is widely grown in Texas — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Agronomy reference
Growing-degree-day requirement: 2200 GDD (base 60°F) from planting to maturity.
Cotton requires a long, warm growing season — generally limited to USDA zones 7 and warmer with adequate growing season length.
Common pests to watch
- Bollworm
- Lygus bug
- Spider mites
Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Common diseases
- Verticillium wilt
- Fusarium wilt
- Cotton root rot
Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.
Variety selection
Cotton varieties for Texas live with your extension service.
Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year’s trial cycle. We don’t republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.
Search the extension site for “cottonvariety trial” or “recommended cotton varieties” to find the current report.
Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.
Cotton timing. Live alerts.
Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.