Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Thrift on October 03, 2010, 09:03

Title: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Thrift on October 03, 2010, 09:03
I grew Cosmos for the first time this year and initially thought 'never again'. They were so tall, all foliage and no flowers!

Now however, they have truly blossomed. They're lovely, all feathery foliage and masses of flowers that last for ages. Magenta and and white swaying in the breeze.  :) :)

Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: mumofstig on October 03, 2010, 09:37
They are pretty  ;)

In my garden they grow tall where the soil is good, but where it's stoney they are shorter, and IMO much better............so guess where they are going next year  :lol:
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: JayG on October 03, 2010, 10:04
I agree; fantastic looking foliage, great flowers and so easy to grow (sown singly straight into the ground.)

Last year I grew them in an arc shape and had the devils own job trying to stop them blowing over, so this year I grew them in two clumps which are much easier to support.
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: arugula on October 03, 2010, 10:34
I grew them for the first time this year too as part of my concerted drive to inject lots of colour into the garden. :) Vibrant pink, long-lasting blooms, but the actual plants took up quite a bit more space than I anticipated,  :wub: so next time I'll plant them somewhere different!

:)
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Spana on October 03, 2010, 11:52
I grow them as well :)

 I grow as cutting flowers in the veg garden and always give the a least 2ft either side of the row.

I really like them, just wish i could get them to flower a bit earlier.  As you say they are lovely now but i want them July -August but i still sow them every year ::)

I grew the yellow and orange sort one year, dont bother with them , they are useless :(

Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Thrift on October 03, 2010, 12:11
I grow them as well :)

 I grow as cutting flowers in the veg garden and always give the a least 2ft either side of the row.

I really like them, just wish i could get them to flower a bit earlier.  As you say they are lovely now but i want them July -August but i still sow them every year ::)

I grow the yellow and orange sort one year, dont bother with them , they are useless :(

Actually I'm quite pleased they're late as they give some much needed prettiness when most flowers are over; although the snaps are still battling on.  :D


Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: arugula on October 03, 2010, 12:31
Mine too (snaps)! When are they going to give in?  :unsure:
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Hey Jude on October 03, 2010, 20:30
I adore cosmos - I've been growing them for the last three years, but you're right, they do get a tad on the large side, but I do like the fact that they're late flowering and they're so pretty in a jug on the kitchen table - 'a must grow' forever! Jude
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: DD. on October 03, 2010, 20:54
I had the prettiest potato patch on our site - from the self-seeded Cosmos grown the previous year!
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Thrift on October 04, 2010, 07:51
 :D :D Lovely
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Thrift on October 04, 2010, 07:53
I adore cosmos - I've been growing them for the last three years, but you're right, they do get a tad on the large side, but I do like the fact that they're late flowering and they're so pretty in a jug on the kitchen table - 'a must grow' forever! Jude

Hi Jude, so glad you love your Cosmos too. By the way, I'm originally from Warwickshire  :)
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: Bizzi Lizzi on October 07, 2010, 11:24
Three years ago I grew masses of a pink variety and they were fabulous, an absolute revelation, so did the same the last year.  Nothing! :ohmy:This year I grew small yellow ones and they were great.  I clumped them together and they gave me a lovely display.  I even put two tiny tweeny nearly dead ones between two flags on the patio, watered them once and they flourished and are just about still going. :D

Have bouught another couple of seed packs for next year if you want the details. :D
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: sion01 on October 15, 2010, 17:59
Also tryed them for the first time this year and loved them I grew three diffrent kinds and my favourite was a white one called 'purity'.Great flower and they have been flowering for 2 months and are still going.What more can you ask for
Title: Re: Cosmos .... love them!
Post by: compostqueen on October 15, 2010, 23:22
I always grow a load from seed of Cosmos Sonata mix which I plant up around my shed in various tubs and containers  :)