You Can Grow Cotton at Home

In short: Cotton can be grown at home as an annual in 12–14 cm pots with standard horticultural substrate, sown directly. Seeds germinate in 8–14 days at a constant temperature and sufficient moisture. The first flowers appear about 8 weeks after sowing and the bolls with fibres ripen within another 2–3 months.

Everyone is intimately familiar with clothing made from cotton. Cotton fibres are now contained in almost 50% of manufactured textiles. However, only a few people know what the plant from which cotton is obtained looks like. This plant is the cotton plant, whose fruits contain cotton fibres from which cotton is made. Cotton plant (lat. Gossypium) is a dicotyledonous plant from the mallow family (lat. Malvaceae). There are approximately 40 species of cotton plants. Some of them are grown exclusively for fibres, while others serve more of a decorative function. In our conditions, two species of cotton plant are most commonly grown - Levant cotton (lat. Gossypium herbaceum) and upland cotton (lat. Gossypium hirsutum). Thanks to our e-shop, you can grow these two species of cotton plant yourself - it's not complicated at all. You'll get an interesting plant and grow a few cotton fibres too.

Levant cotton has been cultivated in southern Asia since ancient times. The cultivation of Levant cotton only spread to southern Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries. Today, the main European cotton producers are Greece and southern Spain. Of course, they cannot match the quantity of cotton plants in Asia, where the cultivation of these plants is much more widespread. Cotton plants can grow to a height of 0.5 - 4 m. The leaves grow alternately, are lobed, and one or several stalked flowers grow from their axils. Each flower has five petals, which are coloured white, yellow or red depending on the variety. The flowers develop into spherical to oval fruits about the size of a walnut. The fruits (bolls) open with 3 - 5 valves after ripening. The bolls contain lentil-like seeds that are densely covered with white, green or brown fibres. The fibres are coiled in a spiral inside the boll. The length of quality fibre is approximately 12 - 65 mm. These fibres are further processed after harvest. After treatment, long fibres are woven into yarn intended for fabric production. Short fibres are used to make artificial silk, guncotton and padding.

Upland cotton

Upland cotton is grown in our region as an ornamental plant suitable for arrangements. In favourable conditions, it grows up to 60 cm in height. Upland cotton is sensitive to root damage during transplanting, so it's better to sow it directly in its final location or in a pot. As the plant's name suggests, upland cotton is covered with fine hairs on the stem and underside of the leaves. The flowers are yellow on the upper side and pinkish underneath. The cotton fibres are pure white. In addition to the fibres themselves, the boll also contains fine fuzz called linters, which is used for the production of artificial silk. The original homeland of upland cotton is the West Indies and warm regions of America. Currently, it is also widely cultivated in other areas with suitable climatic conditions.

Growing Cotton in Our Conditions

In our conditions, cotton is usually grown as an annual plant, though it can be successfully cultivated for multiple years as long as it doesn't freeze. Seeds stripped of their fibers are sown in prepared pots approximately 12 - 14 cm in size. Sowing is done directly. Older seeds can be soaked in lukewarm water for several hours before sowing to help them swell. Cotton is satisfied with standard horticultural substrate. Under favorable conditions - constant temperature and sufficient moisture - seeds germinate within 8 - 14 days. Place mature seedlings in a bright location to prevent the plants from stretching unnecessarily. Shading doesn't harm cotton, but the plants would look unattractive. In locations where the sun shines all day, cotton plants are slightly smaller but more compact and visually more attractive. A suitable location for cultivation is, for example, a sunny balcony or terrace. On warm days, cotton requires regular watering, and after the first flowers fade, it's advisable to begin fertilizing the plants regularly. Cotton often reacts to excessive dryness by dropping its oldest leaves. With exemplary care, cotton will reward its growers with beautiful first flowers, which appear approximately 8 weeks after sowing. Bolls containing cotton fibers and seeds mature in another 2 - 3 months. Harvested seeds maintain viability for at least 4 years.

Large-Scale Cotton Cultivation

On plantations, seeds stripped of fibers are sown in well-prepared soil. Seeds are worked into the soil to a depth of approximately 5 cm. Individual rows are spaced approximately 1 m apart. Young plants must be hoed, weeded, and artificially irrigated during dry periods. For large-scale growers, yields are very important and must be supported by regular fertilization. First flowers appear on cotton plants 80 - 120 days after sowing. Boll maturation is gradual, which significantly complicates harvesting. Manual harvesting performed in multiple stages would therefore be more suitable, but due to the high labor demands of this approach, mechanized harvesting is increasingly being adopted. Before machines begin harvesting cotton bolls, leaves must be removed using defoliants. After harvest, long fibers are mechanically separated from seeds using machines, while short and felted fibers are removed using chemicals. Fibers processed this way are passed on for further processing.

Cotton is not grown only for fibre

Most cotton plants are grown for their fibres, but these are not the only thing that can be used from cotton. From the husked seeds, a thick red-black oil is pressed, which is used for lubricating machinery. After filtering, purification and bleaching, it can also be used in the food industry. Cotton oil also finds application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Cotton soap is the most commonly encountered product. Processed cotton residues (press cake) are used as animal feed because they contain large amounts of oil and minerals. In earlier times, cotton root bark also had its use - it was employed as an emetic agent.

Interesting facts about cotton

• Cotton fibres today form part of more than 50% of manufactured textiles; in the 19th century it was as much as 80%.

• The oldest written mention of cotton comes from India from approximately 1500 BC.

• Cotton has good tensile strength of approximately 245 - 373 mN/tex, which increases by around 20% when wet.

• Cotton products are pleasant to the touch and absorb liquids well.

• Cotton is traded on commodity exchanges - the most famous are in New York, Mumbai and Bremen.