So, fortunately things seem to be settling down, getting into some open warmer weather, which has allowed us to catch up on weed control, get some fertilizing done, and consider starting irrigation. Most areas have accumulated sufficient rainfall which provided a full soil profile of moisture by the first week of July. Combine that with a good temperature range generating good heat units (19-21 DD 60’s per day) making feel a bit more optimistic Based on the scouting fields here is what the average upland cotton plant looks like:
• 12.5” height (range 6.5”- 19.0”)
• 13.2 total nodes (range 8.0 – 17.0)
• 0.9” per internode length whole plant (range 0.6”- 1.5”)
• 2.1” per internode length 4th node from top
• 1st fruiting branch at node 6.3 (range 5 – 8)
• 7.8 first position squares
• 82% square retention (range 65%-95%)
• 8.2 Nodes above white flower (NAWF), where flowering on 8% acres I began finding blooms on Monday of this week, July 14. I project we should go into bloom with 8 nodes above white bloom. We are averaging 7 first position squares currently. We will need to form another 2-3 squares which will take 6-9 days. So, in general the average field this year should see first bloom near July 20-23.
Cotton fleahoppers are still of much concern currently before bloom, and Lygus are much more common this week than last. Here is an excellent document on both of these insect pests: https://lubbock.tamu.edu/files/ 2022/07/managing-cotton-insectsin- texas.pdf . Go to page 7 for fleahopper management, and page 14 for Lygus. See page 9 for more on cotton aphids which are still present but have not developed much beyond what beneficials need as a food source in most areas.
My priority list for this upcoming week: 1. Keep close watch for fleahoppers and Lygus on young squaring cotton.
2. Stay on top of weed control, cultivate, hoe, whatever it takes.
3. If you still have fertilizer to go out get it in place before the end of this month. This applies even to late cotton. Late fertilizer applications will only delay maturity and can encourage cotton aphids.
4. If you are not certain what to do on PGR give me a call. I will want to know overall plant height, total number of nodes, length of 4th node down from terminal, and if it has begun to bloom what is the NAWF (nodes above white flower). Oh, and variety.