[spottymint]

Hi

Wondering about growing cosmos this year & was wondering How easy they are to grow ?

Do they keep repeat flowering ect.

Any tips ?

Many thanks, spotty.

[DD.]

They're a doddle. Just bung them in at the right time per the packet and let them get on with it, thin out as necessary.

They are annuals, but can self seed, we had a good display amongst the spuds last year where the Cosmos had been the previously year, but don't reply on that.

[JayG]

They can grow quite tall so be prepared to stake and tie them in especially if your site is windy (easier if you grow them in clumps rather than drifts.)

As DD says dead easy to sow and grow and they should keep on flowering until frost knocks them over! 

[Hey Jude]

Wonderful to grow, and as easy as anything. JayG is right about staking if the site's windy, and if you deadhead the plants you'll be rewarded all summer long. Jude.

[Spana]

They make wonderful cut flowers, I love them :happy:

When I arrange cut flowers for the house I usually add Sarah Ravens mix of sugar, bleach and vinegar to the water to prolong the flowers life in the vase.  Cosmos hate it, so just plain water for them.

[tosca100]

Yep, we grow it...well, it grows itself really. Last year I didn't dead head as much as usual as the weather discouraged me, but they kept on flowering well into the autumn. Don't believe the packet if it says they grow to 18 inches...they are tall!

[mumofstig]

my Cosmas 'Purity' says it grows to 4ft  .........think that had better go at the back of the border   

[Thrift]

Cosmos is a must for me! I love the fact that it is still going strong when everything else has packed up. 

[spottymint]

Hi

Many thanks for the replies, sound like they will be good.

Must get some stakes, O/H won't tollerate untidy plants (bin's them) 

I like plants which look after/sow themselves. My calendulas self sowed & flowered through the snow ! 

[spottymint]

Hi

One other thing, any good colours ? Or named varieties you can recomend ?

Thanks. 

[mumofstig]

You can get mixed packs....white light and dark pinks, which are pretty, but the last few years I've just bought white, which I love as it mixes so well with everything else in the garden and the vase

[Spana]

Yeh, its white for me also :happy: I've grown lots of the named varieties and they are all nice but I like white - i usually have Sonata -  the best.

A £50 bouquet from a florist doesn't look any better than a big billowing bunch of home grown white cosmos in a big blue and white jug :happy:

[mumofstig]

I ordered 'Purity' this year cos it was what Carol Kline was growing in her garden 

I'm not usually a sucker for celebrity endorsement but it did look lovely 

(Sarah Raven recommends it as well )

next year I may have to try Sonata ...as recommended by Spana 

[spottymint]

Prem seeds have "Purity" 300 seeds for 99p . 

[Spana]

next year I may have to try Sonata ...as recommended by Spana 

Both look about the same mum, just Sonata is a little shorter.