Today we'll learn about cosmos, how to grow it from seed, and when to plant it, whether in the ground or as seedlings. Another great thing about cosmos is that it can easily be planted in the ground in the fall, around the end of November, and it will emerge early in the spring because it's frost-resistant and blooms early.
You can scatter the seeds in the soil in the spring, but then it will bloom later, around July, or you can plant seedlings, and in June you will already get the beautiful color of a delicate, unpretentious flower.
If you plant cosmos in your garden, you won't have to worry about propagating it. This Mexican beauty will self-seed itself for several years, leaving you only to thin it out and, if desired, transplant it. Cosmos has a number of advantages and is suitable for everyone—both professionals and beginners, in both poor and rich buds, in full sun and partial shade, on home lawns, in gardens, and in office spaces.
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Planting in the ground
Planting this unpretentious and delicate flower is not at all difficult. Dig a bed in an open, sunny spot in early spring, scatter 3-4 seeds on the surface approximately every 30 cm, and simply press them with your palm to press them into the soil. That's it—you can wait for seedlings to emerge. Plants planted this way will bloom by the end of July and will continue to bloom until September. To get flowers as early as June, you need to grow cosmos from seedlings. You can combine the two methods, and your cosmos will bloom from June to September, one after the other.
Planting using seedlings
More reliable results and faster flowering can be achieved by sowing seeds in trays in March, or at the latest in April. Fill the trays with slightly warm soil, sow the seeds on top, press them down with your palm, cover with plastic wrap, and place them in full sun. If the seedlings emerge too densely, thin them out, leaving 10 cm between each seedling. You can also transplant (prickle) them into separate cups. Another option is to plant 2-3 seeds in each cup to avoid the hassle of pricking them out.
Once the weather warms up and the soil has warmed up, around the end of May, plant the mature seedlings in the ground, leaving about 35 cm between them so the bushes don't crowd each other. If you're growing tall cosmos, you'll need to provide support right away, as the stems are thin and won't support themselves. When the bushes reach 50 cm, pinch the tops to allow the bush to spread out. Cosmos grown this way will bloom in June.
Planting before winter
A good option, as we mentioned above, is to plant cosmos before winter. To do this, dig the soil, apply fertilizer, remove all roots and weeds, and plant the seeds. However, it's important to time this carefully for your region, as the seeds should not germinate before the frost sets in, otherwise the seedlings will simply freeze. Usually, the optimal time is late November, but you need to be aware of your local area.
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Soil
As we've already mentioned, cosmos plants thrive in almost any soil, but if the soil is too rich, it will completely collapse into foliage, and you're unlikely to see much bloom. If the soil is too poor, the flowers will be dwarfed, and the plants will appear pale. Ideally, a light, well-drained soil with a moderate nutrient content is ideal.
Caring for cosmos
Water the plant moderately, as it dislikes overwatering and generally tolerates drought quite well. While the plant is growing and gaining strength, water more frequently, and once it's established, occasional rain is sufficient for its survival, but it's best not to expose it to extreme conditions.
Once the cosmos blooms, remove spent flower stalks promptly, feed it three times a season with organic and mineral fertilizers, and spray with Bud to promote abundant flowering. If the beauty grows too large, it can be trimmed back to a beautiful shape.
Diseases, pests
This flower is so unpretentious, so pest-resistant, it's simply amazing. Nothing scares it, practically nothing harms it, my dear, except perhaps slugs—but you can simply trap them (put beer cans out, and the snails and slugs will readily feast on them).
After flowering
If you planted an annual cosmos, as we mentioned above, it can self-seed, and you can collect the seeds from the capsules and store them indoors for up to five years. If you need to collect seeds, select the strongest and firmest buds and cover them with gauze covers, otherwise the seeds will scatter in the wind or be eaten by birds, who consider them a delicacy.
As for perennial cosmos, it gains strength with age, the bushes become strong, and can be propagated easily by cuttings and dividing the tubers. When the perennial has finished flowering, prune it back to 15 centimeters—this way, all the strength will go back to the roots after flowering, rather than being wasted on empty, useless stems. It's best to cover the bushes warmly for the winter, for example, with spruce branches.
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Adviсe:
- When growing from seedlings, thin out the seedlings when they gain strength and grow to at least 10 cm. Leave a distance of about 40 cm between plants.
- You can use organic fertilizers such as manure and mineral fertilizers such as nitrophoska and gum. Add them sparingly, as too many nutrients can lead to foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Split the feedings into three portions: when buds are just beginning to form, when they've already gained strength, and when blooming begins.
- If you planted the seeds and they all sprouted thickly, you can do this: remove the weakest ones, and those that sprouted strongly - simply move them further away and form a flower bed from them. It would be good to plant them among other flowers, they will create a beautiful flower garden.
Types and varieties
There are now more popular types of cosmos that gardeners enjoy planting, for example:
Cosmos bipinnateAn annual plant, typically found in mountainous areas of Mexico, it bears delicate pink or red flowers and can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters. The bushes resemble dill plants, with large inflorescences and vibrantly colored interiors.
Cosmos sulphur-yellow — This guest from America arrived to us, it loves heat, and can also grow up to 1.5 meters in height. There are lemon-yellow varieties, like Grest Lemon, or rich orange ones, like Bilbo.
Blood red — another garden favorite, a Mexican guest. Sometimes its flowers are intensely red, almost black, hence its second name—black cosmos. This variety of cosmos is best grown in pots, as it's very heat-loving, and the pots should be brought indoors for the winter. When grown in the ground in southern regions, it should still be well covered for the winter.
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