A lot of cotton acres have already been planted and more are going in by the day. Extension recommendations for cotton planting have been the same for a long time.  Soil temps above 60F for several days and a warm 5-10 day forecast.

The other primary factor being considered is soil moisture. Many fields are getting dry in the seed zone and the next rain event looks like it may be next weekend at the earliest.

The critical minimum temperature for cotton growth is 60 degrees F.  We know that temperatures in the 50s slow growth but are not too much of a problem as to impact yield greatly.  However, as the temperatures get below 50 and especially into the 30’s, the plant injury can be significant.

Below is a chart showing the likelihood of air temperatures in Victoria, Texas getting below 40 and 50 degrees F for each day in the month of March.  This data was obtained from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/ .

This also illustrates why the normal planting dates have been in late March and early April.

All cotton coming up should be scouted for Thrips. Cotton in colder conditions will be slower growing and more susceptible to thrips injury. Last Year’s Thrips Update: https://agrilife.org/mid-coast-ipm/2023/04/06/cotton-ipm-update-early-season-thrips/