Commonwealth Gin, Windsor Virginia 

Cooler temperatures this weekend and early next week will keep farmers in a holding pattern as we approach planting.

Traditionally, April 20 is the calendar date to at least think about starting to plant cotton for this region although most years, the temperatures are just not consistently warm enough to begin this early. Local cotton farmers are more comfortable waiting until the last several days of April or early May to start planting when the warm trend develops. 

I am looking at a two week forecast that indicates some really hot weather developing around the April 26. That may be a little too far away to make any firm plans yet. 

If you plant early, be sure and use a full season variety that grows tall because April planted cotton is usually shorter than May planted cotton.