Don’t turn me in. I did a technically illegal planting of wild cotton yesterday. I think it’s acceptable to give a figurative middle finger to a law banning planting a native plant.
“It is not legal to plant this plant, but the reasons are very dated. A Florida law was passed in the early 1900s banning the growing of wild cottons, which can attract boll weevils. The intent was to protect commercial cotton farming. Methods of agricultural protection are more advanced today, and the native Florida cotton does not grow in the parts of the state where cottons are grown commercially. However, the law is still on the books.”
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing! It does seem crazy that a native plant that’s endangered is illegal to grow. Since it’s illegal to grow, I hope at least universities or someone else is preserving the native germplasm.
It was that way for several decades here in Michigan with our native currant because of White Pine Blister. You can grow them now, but you’re supposed to get a permit from the State of Michigan.
that arcane law is still in effect here in Maine despite Ribes growing wild everywhere here. someone needs to go and get rid of those old laws but so few people grow crops nowadays, theres not enough incentive to remove them.
I’m growing Seamist Green cotton this year for Sandhill. It is one of Glenn’s “tough” projects with very old seed that did not germinate very well. I got exactly 3 plants from about 50 seed. But! All 3 have bolls on and I’ve already picked enough mature cotton to plant a row across the garden next year.
I’ve often wondered what would happen if okra and cotton were crossed. There are significant genetic barriers but it is probably possible. Would we wind up with lint 6 or more inches long? or just a bunch of funky looking okra seed? Would it be edible?
Actually all the rules banning cotton planting based on Boll Weevils have been repelled. They’ve supposedly been eliminated from the state. However, we still have our native Pink Bollworm, which also causes a ban on no commercial cotton. Polk county isn’t apart of that ban anyways though, it’s Hillsborough south essentially, with Polk being exclusively left off the list while other counties inline with it aren’t. They probably left the door open for commercial cotton growers in Polk, not that there is any.
@kelbot As a kid, I frequently gnawed on cottonseed meal ‘cubes’ which we fed to the cows during winter. Not a great taste, but not terrible… and they weren’t even formulated for human consumption.
IDK if gossypol poses any issues to human health, or if today’s commercial cotton varieties even contain significant levels of gossypol.
Ah I used to snack on the non-flavored dog kibble. You used to get it everywhere. Looked like tan cat litter. Can’t find it anywhere today. Tasted sort of like toasted rye crackers. A slight malt flavor?
