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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: Levi on November 30, 2009, 23:04:41

Title: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: Levi on November 30, 2009, 23:04:41
After 3 attempts at trying and failing, can anyone offer advice please? I've tried keeping them in a cold room indoors but may have kept them too dry  ??? I've got an all-glass cold frame and an all-plastic one. Is this hard to do? Shall I just try to grow them fresh from seed?
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: thifasmom on December 01, 2009, 00:10:04
I would be following this thread with interest as i was given a young plant this year as a thankyou for some plants from a freecycler. I moved mine into the unheated greenhouse late October and because of the mild temps its got three flower buds on it and looks really healthy.

do you think i should nip out the flower buds. The weather as we know is finally turning wintery so i hope it will start to go dormant.
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: budgiebreeder on December 01, 2009, 08:43:05
I have mine in a  stone pot on the patio and just cut it back in the Autumn and leave it outside.Had it several years and it is still growing strong.That is in Yorkshire and we had plenty frost.Never realised they should be taken into the greenhouse?
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: thifasmom on December 01, 2009, 09:02:48
well i have heard that they can be overwintered outside but can sometimes succumb to the wet and cold, so thought i should give it some protection. but i am more than happy to hear suggestions on how to get it through the winter.

i have always wanted a plant and was pleasantly surprised when i was given one. so would be loath to kill it :-X :)
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: saddad on December 02, 2009, 22:21:59
I kept one for several years by taking it into a cold greenhouse and ignoring it until I wanted the space in Spring... it did die after 4-5 years but I think that was just age....  :-\
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: asbean on December 03, 2009, 09:27:15
We had one that we accidently left out all winter, it died of course.  We got another the following year, over-wintered it in the poly tunnel, and it was the only tender plant to die.

Maybe we don't have the right knack with these, or should think about treating them as annuals.  In a garden our size one plant is really enough.
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: ACE on December 04, 2009, 12:55:42
I always treat these as annuals, but if the plant was a present, bring it in somewhere sheltered, but don't let it dry right out.
Title: Re: Overwintering 'chocolate' Cosmos
Post by: BornAgainGardener on December 06, 2009, 11:26:35
Ours has just been clobbered by the frosts.

But it'll be back next year even better. We put it in last summer, a small garden centre specimen, did OK then died back for winter. This year, though, its been magnificent. If it grows any bigger we will have to divide it.