Just a quick one. How tall are Cosmos supposed to grow? I plonked them in the middle of a flower bed thinking maybe 40cm but now have what look like trees, over 5ft! Am I alone?
No CC you're not alone :) Mine have gone crazy this year and are hiding all the things I was hoping they'd frame. Same can be said for the nicotania and ageratum and petunias, all silly heights and I've had to yoink lots out and chop others down. ???
Same thing happened here. Was sent seeds by A4A member was told they were a tall plant but crikey I didn't think they would be that tall. So are they normally about 40cm? As I have been growing loads of plants (seeds from members) this year that I have never grown before I have made notes of heights etc so that I can plan borders a little better next year. I have a lot to learn :)
I grew a few Cosmos bipinatus (Are these the ones we are taling about - the bedding cosmos?) for the first time from seed this year. I planted one in a container with other plants (as an experiment) and the rest (much later) in the ground in gaps where early perennials has finished. The one in the pot went beserk and io had to take nearly everything else out of the pot and leave it on its own! The ones in the ground as i said went in a bit late and didnt get established before the July heatwaves. Consequently despite watering they havent got as big as the container one. Even so they have grown enough to let me see i have put them in the wrong place (at the front of a border)!
However I can see the potential is there, if planted earlier and given time to establish. I shant be put off, Now i know how big they can get i can plant them somewhere better next year.
I had a similar experience with canterbury bells too. Grew them for the first time, didnt expect them to grow too tall and put them in the wrong place. Unfortunatley with these whilst they have done really well, their presence kind of spoilt the border thet were planted in because they masked smaller plants behind them. Again i shall know for next year!
Mine on the allotment which were sown directly are way over 5 foot - I know cos I am 5 foot 3 and they are above me! However, they have been amazing and smothered in flowers and everyone has commented. The ones in the garden that were squeezed in didn't get as tall, but still were a good 24 inches or more. They are SO on my list for next year! Just fab!
Can anyone tell me if they are any good growing as a cut flower? I usualy grow a bed of flowers for cutting on the veg plot but in the last couple of years have struggled to grow a decent 'crop'. I am wondering if I need to try some different things. Cosmos might just fit the bill if they will cut ok.
Thanks
Cosmos certainly do work as a cut flower - typically last at least a week in the vase.
As for the height, it depends upon which of the many varieties you grow - the 'Sonata' ones are less than 3ft, but 'sensation' will be over 4ft and the species can be 6ft high.
I'm still waiting for mine to bud let alone flower.
:'(
Mine are a bit crazy too this year, many of them are doubles but none more than 4ft
They are one of my favourites. I can remember when I was small seeing them waving about over a high brick wall with those glass pieces that used to be cemented into the top to keep out intruders. "Now that sounds a good idea to me to put round the allotment"
Quote from: shirlton on August 29, 2006, 10:21:19
They are one of my favourites. I can remember when I was small seeing them waving about over a high brick wall with those glass pieces that used to be cemented into the top to keep out intruders. "Now that sounds a good idea to me to put round the allotment"
Good idea but highly illegal these days i am afraid. Plant Cosmos around the allotment by all means, but they wont keep out intruders!
have put a couple of photos in the gallery. We used cosmos this year for a couple of beds in the town. Most of them flowered OK, but a couple produced no buds at all. The larger bed was raised from seed, the small bed we bought as plants (at great expense!)
Can anyone tell me how to predict what colour my cosmos will be? Mine are all dark pink - gave loads of the same seedlings (grown in the same bed) to next door but one neighbour in the lottie and his are all white. I'm assumimg it has something to do with soil type, but more than that I don't know.
Nothing to do with soil type, just pot luck with the seed, which tends to be of mixed colours. I like the white ones and was lucky to have all white ones come up this year frm seed.
I suppose you can get single colour seed mixtures , but i dont know where from and are probably named varieties so mor expensive to buy.
No there is no way to tell colour before flowering (unlike lupins for example)
PS Shirley: Liked the pictures. great display. Cosmos are a much undervalued plant i think.
Bit weird though - gave him about 15 plants from amixed lot - all of his are white, all of mine pink. What are the chances of that, then?
Had a near disaster with one of mine in the wind yesterday. A well grown plant full of bloom got virtualy blown out of the ground, whils t others around werent affected.
Fortunatley i was able to prop it up and save it (for now). Could hear the roots ripping in the soil as i proped it back up though and the support had to go through a nearby perennial. Time will tell if it survives. OK i know its only an annual and will be coming out sometime anyway, but whilst it still ahs flower on i want to keep it going as long as possible.