I want to try growing some Cosmos. Does anyone else have these? I'm going to have so much room for flower beds and would like to try different flowers. A lot of shade also, so I'll probably be somewhat limited on what will grow. Candy Stripe Cosmos ( photo / image / picture from okietriker's Garden )
cosmos are very easy to grow...they do get tall, though....i love the ferny foliage, i mostly put them on the outside of my garden and they kind of act as a screen ...they are lovely, if you dead head regularly, you will have blooms for a long time! cosmos planted on the outside fence..(they got taller than the fence) ( photo / image / picture from Annette's Garden )
The Cosmos bipinnatus (Garden Cosmos, Mexican Aster) will get quite tall. Some of mine a couple of years ago reached over 4 feet tall, they come in different shades of pink and white. The Cosmos sulphureus (Sulphur Cosmos, Yellow Cosmos) come in yellow, orange and red but are not nearly as tall, maybe 2 feet max. If you want more plants during the growing season and some to come back next year don't deadhead all of them, let some set seed. If your growing season is long enough you will have more new plants in late summer and some of the seeds will germinate next spring. You could probably pot up some of the smaller plants at the end of Autumn and keep them in a greenhouse or inside during the winter.
I have a bed just for them next to the garage/storage building (facing south). They must be the easiest plant to grow. My reseeded and grew twice this past year. I did harvest some seeds (just in case) and let the rest do what they wanted. I think I like the pink, white and purple ones the best because of the foliage. The oranges are pretty, but the foliage is more like a marigold. Cosmos bed ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Orange & Yellow Cosmos ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Can I direct seed cosmos in Zone 5 I have bought some as plants in the past at local nursery. She sold Her place last fall. We worked in area painting-think seed and plants might have gotten ruined-if they do back for this area. Love the pictures. I'm so ready for flower time-everything is mud and BROWN now.
Hey Koszta, I am also in zone 5 and have always preferred sowing Cosmos seeds directly in my beds in the spring. I usually wait until the ground is warmed up, and then they take off, and love the warm summer here.
I'm in zone 5 as well. I have had Cosmos reseed themselves year after year in my garden. I love their feathery foliage and the blooms are a bonus
This is area I want to plant them. Lot of siding was taken off. Painted and painted some last summer. So many things to take down. I divide many of the plants and gave away. Bloomed early then no color rest of the year..
i grow cosmos practically every year...never bought 'starters', always from seed..they do very well, and always have a few that have reseeded from the previous year.
I'm going to give them a try. Got different colors.Since looks so much better with the paint. Soil will need some work. Ladders on it compacting it.
