- Plant as soon as possible. With the recent rains we have good moisture, don’t let it expire. We need to establish good stands as quickly as possible.
- Increase seeding rates If you have been planting at 46,000 – 47,000 seed per acre, this should be fine. If, however, you were planting at 43,5000 or less, then increase the seeding rate to 46,000-47,000. Remember, later planted cotton is more sensitive to skimpy stands than earlier planted cotton.
- Consider switching to an earlier variety if it is competitive yield wise on similar soils. The focus should be on managing for earliness but not at the expense of yield. Be timely with PGRs. Late planted cotton may not have enough time to fully develop top bolls. If timely rains cause rapid growth, be you should be a little aggressive in holding the overall height to 36-38 inches.
- Scout for insects frequently and spray when threshold is met. Late planted cotton will not have the time to make up for bolls lost to plant bug or boll worm injury. Follow up with sequential sprays as needed.
- Avoid spending money on unproven inputs, stick with the basics and do them timely.
Tips for Late Planted Cotton
If you are thinking about planting during the first week of June, here are a few things to consider from Dr. Guy Collins:
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