Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative 

Let's take a look at the development of the cotton plant. As the plant grows and matures, it is preparing to produce cotton fiber. The first step in this process is the development of the square, which in a span of roughly 23 days will grow into a white bloom. Once the bloom is pollinated, it will turn from white to pink and then to a light purple hue. The bloom will dry and detach from the plant, leaving behind the boll. The boll will eventually open to reveal the fiber. A rough estimate from the pink flower stage to the open boll is 55 days.