How to Grow Cotton
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is a cash crop crop that yields 0.5–3 tonnes (seed cotton) per hectare and takes 150–180 days from planting to harvest. It grows best in well-drained deep loam to clay loam, pH 6.0–8.0; saline-tolerant to a degree, needs 700–1,300 mm of water, and is widely grown in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia. The current average farm-gate price on GeraFarm is about $1.80 per kg.
Yield / hectare
0.5–3 tonnes (seed cotton)
Time to harvest
150–180 days from planting
Avg. price
$1.80/kg
Top regions
Ghana, Nigeria
About Cotton
Cotton underpins textile industries across West Africa and South Asia. Ghana's cotton sector is supported by ginneries in Tamale and Bolgatanga; digital traceability is increasingly demanded by EU textile brands.
Cotton growing facts
- Scientific name
- Gossypium hirsutum
- Category
- Cash Crop
- Yield per hectare
- 0.5–3 tonnes (seed cotton)
- Time to harvest
- 150–180 days from planting
- Growing season
- April–May planting; harvest October–December (West Africa)
- Avg. farm-gate price
- $1.80 / kg
- Soil requirements
- Well-drained deep loam to clay loam, pH 6.0–8.0; saline-tolerant to a degree
- Water requirements
- 700–1,300 mm; critical during boll development
How to grow cotton, step by step
- 1
Prepare soil to the crop’s needs
Test and prepare your soil to match cotton's requirement: Well-drained deep loam to clay loam, pH 6.0–8.0; saline-tolerant to a degree. Correct pH and add organic matter before planting.
- 2
Plant in the right window
Plant during the recommended season: April–May planting; harvest October–December (West Africa). Use certified seed or healthy planting material to avoid carrying over disease.
- 3
Irrigate to target
Supply 700–1,300 mm; critical during boll development. Even, well-timed moisture during the critical growth stages drives yield and quality.
- 4
Scout and protect against disease
Watch for Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa) and Fusarium wilt. Rotate crops, keep good spacing for airflow, and act early — AI disease-scan apps can warn you days before damage is visible.
- 5
Harvest at the right time
Harvest after 150–180 days from planting. Handle gently and cool quickly to cut post-harvest losses, which can otherwise reach 20–40%.
- 6
Sell direct for a better price
List your cotton free on GeraFarm, set your own price, and sell direct to verified buyers — keeping the margin a broker would otherwise take.
Diseases & pests to watch for
- Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa)
- Fusarium wilt
- Verticillium wilt
- Cotton aphid
- Bacterial blight
Smart-farming tips for cotton
- Bollworm pheromone trap AI networks predict egg-laying peaks and optimise targeted spray dates
- Drone-based boll-count imagery enables accurate yield forecasting 6 weeks before harvest
- Satellite vegetation anomaly maps identify Verticillium wilt patches for early containment
- Cotton lint quality grading AI (colour, trash, micronaire) removes subjectivity from gin samples
- Digital farmbook (pest scouting + input records) supports fair-trade and organic certification audits
Get cotton price alerts & growing tips
Seasonal cotton price updates, planting reminders and disease alerts, plus when to sell for the best price — straight to your inbox. Free.
Growing cotton — frequently asked questions
- How much cotton can you grow per hectare?
- A well-managed cotton crop yields 0.5–3 tonnes (seed cotton) per hectare. Actual yield depends on variety, soil fertility, irrigation, and disease pressure — Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, India are among the leading growing regions. On GeraFarm, growers selling direct typically earn 40–60% more than through traditional middlemen.
- When is the cotton growing season and how long until harvest?
- Cotton is typically planted in: April–May planting; harvest October–December (West Africa). It takes 150–180 days from planting to reach harvest. Timing your planting to local conditions is the single biggest factor in yield.
- What soil and water does cotton need?
- Cotton prefers Well-drained deep loam to clay loam, pH 6.0–8.0; saline-tolerant to a degree. Water requirement: 700–1,300 mm; critical during boll development. Matching soil and irrigation to these needs is essential for a healthy cotton crop.
- What are the main diseases and pests that affect cotton?
- The most common threats to cotton are Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa), Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt. Crop rotation, certified seed or planting material, good spacing for airflow, and early scouting are the most reliable defences. AI disease-scan tools can flag many of these before they spread visibly.
- Is cotton farming profitable?
- Cotton sells for around $1.80 per kg at farm gate, and a hectare can yield 0.5–3 tonnes (seed cotton). Profitability hinges on yield, input costs, post-harvest losses, and the price you can negotiate — selling direct to buyers on GeraFarm removes the broker margin that usually takes 40–60% of the gap between farm-gate and retail price.
- Where can I sell cotton after harvest?
- You can list cotton free on GeraFarm and reach verified buyers — restaurants, wholesalers, processors and exporters — in 50+ countries. There are no listing fees, only a small commission on completed sales, and you set your own price in your local currency.