Agriculture: Cotton Pest Management Guidelines

First Open Boll to Harvest

This year-round IPM program covers major pests of cotton grown in California.

About First Open Boll to Harvest

What should you be doing during this time?

Continue tracking degree-day accumulations for plant growth.

Monitor aphids and whitefly, including regrowth after defoliation:

  • Keep records (PDF)
  • Treat if needed according to Cotton Pest Management Guidelines.

Survey weeds before harvest:

  • Keep records (PDF)
  • Treat if needed according to Cotton Pest Management Guidelines.

Schedule defoliation to allow for timely harvest and minimum regrowth.

If you have evidence of Verticillium wilt in your field, or if you want to plant a variety with unknown resistance, choose a time between crop maturity and harvest to sample stems for discoloration.

Continue to monitor lygus bugs (PDF) and treat if necessary according to the Cotton Pest Management Guidelines.

Sample plant roots and rate nematode infestation while soil is still moist from final irrigation:

  • Keep records (PDF)
  • Treat if needed according to the Cotton Pest Management Guidelines
Text Updated: 05/13
Feedback