Georgia’s agricultural landscape is significantly shaped by cotton, which remains a major commodity and a substantial contributor to the state’s economy. This fiber crop continues to command large acreage across the state. The journey from planting to a marketable fiber is a lengthy and complex process, culminating in a highly synchronized harvest. Understanding the specific timing and preparation stages for cotton picking is essential to maximize fiber quality and ensure a successful season.
Understanding the Cotton Growth Cycle
The cotton plant requires a long, warm, frost-free growing season, which Georgia’s climate readily provides. Farmers typically begin planting in April, continuing through May and sometimes into early June, depending on soil temperature and moisture levels. The entire growing cycle takes approximately 140 to 160 days from seed to open boll, making it a full-season crop.
After seedlings emerge, the plant develops small flower buds called squares about six to eight weeks after planting. These squares bloom into flowers, which wither, leaving behind the immature cotton bolls. The boll contains the developing cotton fiber and seeds, taking about 50 to 60 days to reach full maturity.
Maturity is reached when the bolls naturally begin to split open, revealing the fluffy white lint inside. This splitting process, known as dehiscence, signals that the fiber has fully dried and fluffed out. The timing of this natural opening dictates the start of harvest preparations.
The Peak Harvest Window in Georgia
The cotton harvest in Georgia typically begins in late September and continues through November, with the bulk of the activity concentrated in October. This window is highly variable, influenced by the planting date and local weather conditions. Growers in southern Georgia often begin harvesting slightly earlier than those farther north.
Successful mechanical harvesting demands dry, warm weather and low fiber moisture content to prevent equipment issues and lint damage. Farmers aim to begin picking when 60% to 75% of the bolls have opened, ensuring maximum yield and fiber quality. The internal moisture level of the cotton ideally needs to be 12% or less for safe picking and storage.
Delaying the harvest risks weather damage, such as staining from rain or loss of fiber quality. Harvesting too early results in lower yields by missing the opening of late-maturing bolls. The peak harvest is a relatively narrow, weather-dependent window spanning the middle weeks of autumn.
Preparing the Field for Mechanical Picking
Before mechanical pickers enter the fields, a mandatory step called defoliation must occur. Defoliation is the artificial removal of the cotton plant’s leaves, which prevents green leaves from staining the white lint during picking. This process also allows the machine’s spindles to access the open bolls efficiently.
Farmers use chemical defoliants, which are specialized harvest-aid products, to induce this leaf drop. These chemicals promote the natural shedding of leaves, often combined with boll-opening agents to accelerate the maturity of remaining bolls. Defoliants are applied approximately 10 to 21 days before the planned harvest date, allowing sufficient time for the leaves to drop completely.
The effectiveness of the defoliant depends on warm, sunny conditions and evening temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are too cool, the chemicals may not work properly, leading to “stuck leaves” that contaminate the harvested fiber. Precision scouting and timing are essential to ensure the field is optimally prepared.
Immediate Post-Harvest Handling
Once the cotton is mechanically picked, handling focuses on efficient collection, compaction, and temporary storage. Modern cotton pickers form the harvested seed cotton directly into large, dense cylindrical units known as round modules. These modules are automatically wrapped in a protective plastic film before being deposited onto the field.
The creation of these modules separates the harvesting process from the ginning process. This temporary storage allows farmers to harvest the entire field quickly when fiber quality is optimal, without waiting for immediate gin processing. The modules can weigh over two tons and protect the seed cotton from weather and contamination while awaiting transport.
After field collection, the next destination is the cotton gin, where the final step occurs. Ginning involves machinery separating the usable lint fiber from the seeds and remaining plant material. This separation transforms the raw agricultural product into the clean, baled commodity ready for textile manufacturing.