Cosmos, with its feathery foliage and blousy blooms is one of my all time favourite flowers to grow. It is one of the most prolific crops you can grow as a cut flower farmer because it is a cut and come again flower. Its a staple of the tranditinal English cottage garden but due to its delicate blooms is not readily available as a cut flower from traditional flower wholesalers.
Honestly they dont travel well. The petals are so think and fragile that they can not withstand the heavy transportation required and being crammed into buckets wih 100's og other stems. So they only way to get these into your hands is to seek out a local flower farmer whoch grows thm or to grow then yourself!
As long as you keep cutting and deadheading from July onwards right through to the first frosts it will bloom it's little petals off non stop and provide plenty of fresh flowers for your bouquets. Growing Cosmos is super easy to germinate and grow.
Choosing your Cosmos Varieties
There are so many pretty colours to choose from so you will be spolied for choice. You dont need many plants to make a big impact as they grow so large and branch out with lots of blooms.
We also offer mixed packs of our favourites so if you only have a small space these are ideal as you only need to sow one packet to get ALL the pretty colours!
Here are some of our favourites:
Cosmos Capri Mix
A pretty mix of whites, peaches, and light pinks, Including Apricotta, fluffy Double Click and Cupcakes.
Cosmos Cupcakes Blush
Such a showstopper with cupcake shaped open blooms in singles and doubles and a gorgeous blush pink colouring.
Cosmos Montabello Mix
Pinky lilacs, Peach & White! Includes Apricotta, Stunning Cupcakes and Double Click.
Cosmos Apricotta
Such a gorgeus colouring with peachy petals fading into pink in the center. The ultimate peach blousy bloom!
When to sow Cosmos
Cosmos is a Half Hardy Annual so seeds should not be started too early, they will not do well in cold winter weather at the start of the year. So wait intil the weather warms a little. I sow mine in April usually but here in the UK (Zones 7-9) they can be grown anytime from mid March through to the end May.
Sowing Seeds and Growing Cosmos on
Fill your pots or trays with damp compost.
Sow a couple of seeds per put/ cell.
Cover lightly with a sprinkle of soil and water well.
They will germinate in 1-2 weeks at an ideal temperature of 16- 21°C, I use a heated matt, and if you can also cover them with a humidity lid then all the better. If you don't have either of these then they will just take longer to germinate and may not do so until the temperature is a little warmer ( Especially if you sowing in early March ! ) You can also take them inside the house and pop then on a sunny windowsill to germiate.
Once germinated grow the seedlings on in slightly cooler conditions 12 °C - 18 °C should be ok - and pretenct them from slugs. They are Cosmos' worst enemy!
Once large enough to handle prick them out into individual pots or cells and grow on until they are around 10cm tall. Remember that Cosmos are a half hardy annuals so they will not tolerate frosts, its best to keep then in a greenhouse bringing them outside on sunny days to aclimatise.
Harden the plants off for 2 weeks prior to plating when all risk of frost has passed.
Chosse a sunny spot with free draining soil which has been manured the previous season, I also add a spinkle of chicken manure pellets before planting.
Plant 30cm appart - they may be small now but they will soon branch out and grow very large so give them plenty of room.
PInch out the main stem which will encourage the plants to branch out giving more blooms
Nurturing Your Plants for more Blooms
Your plants will grow tall - upto around 1 - 1.5m so its a good idea to stake them. You can use netting or canes with string..... just dont leave it too late as once they have flopped it very difficult to get them to grow back straight again.
It's essential to provide them with proper care to ensure robust growth and abundant blooms. Regularly pinch off the spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming, a technique known as "deadheading." especially if you are not cutting them for flower arranging, but have then in a garden setting.
Feed your cosmos plants with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to replenish nutrients in the soil and promote healthy growth. I use an organic liquid seaweed which is diluted in a watering can. You can also use your own home made concoctions - Nettle tea, compost tea etc
Cut and Come Again - A Continuous Bloomer
One of the unique characteristics of cosmos is its ability to bloom continuously throughout the growing season. By adopting a "cut and come again" approach, where you regularly harvest flowers or deadhead, you can stimulate the plant to produce more blooms. This not only keeps your garden looking fresh but also encourages the plant to branch out and grow bushier.
The Endurance of Cosmos - Blooming Until the Frost
As the gardening season progresses, cosmos remains a steadfast companion in the garden, unfazed by heat or occasional neglect which is just amazing when the petals are so light and delicate. These hardy plants will continue to bloom profusely, until the arrival of the first frost. Their resilience and adaptability make them a favorite among gardeners and flower farmers.
Do you have any favourites? Or any top growing tips - Let us know in the comments!
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