The severity of diseases caused by species of Fusarium is often increased by high rainfall and cool temperatures (Neal, 1947; Sharma and Sharma, 2003; Wang et al., 1999; Young, 1947). Wet conditions are commonly encountered early in the cotton growing season in parts of Australia. Wang et al. (1999) found that disease caused by Fov on cotton seedlings, in the glasshouse, was most severe within a temperature range of 18 - 23C and was decreased at higher temperatures, suggesting that cooler climatic conditions would favour the development of Fusarium wilt in the field. Similar temperatures are experienced in the early part of the season in Australia. If sowing can be delayed without leading to yield loss, the period of exposure of the crop to cool wet conditions that favour infection of seedlings by Fov may be decreased. We studied the impact of delayed sowing on the severity of Fusarium wilt of cotton in three seasons on a farm near Moree, Australia.