Cosmos, the popular flower of every cottage garden, commands attention with its tall, green stems, which are complemented by delicate flowers in all possible colours. No matter the shape, size, or color of the flowers, they are always noticed in the garden. Here are the tips on how to grow it successfully.

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Easily grown annual flower

Cosmos bippinatus is an annual flower that dislikes frost. The low temperatures are the only thing that can really kill it. It is a native plant to South America and Mexico, so it tolerates drought and average soil.

This bushy plant will grow up to 2m(6.5ft) tall in perfect conditions, although in most cases it stays below 1,5m(4.9ft), making it a perfect plant to create a delicate hedge along the garden. Although the leaves look quite delicate with their needle-like shape, they are actually quite hardy and won’t break easily. The strong winds will knock down the entire plant before breaking the branches off the bush.

Cosmoses self-sow easily. Once you plant them in the garden, there’s a very good chance you won’t need to sow them again for ages. The seeds are easily released from the head, and simply walking along the bushes and brushing the tops will be enough to set the next year’s bushy scene.

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Cosmos has every color in the book

Cosmoses come in every possible colour and shape. From white to dark brown, pink to purple, even the pale blue, red, and yellow, every color is possible. The picotee varieties usually have darker outside of the petals, while the middle is white or a pale colour. The flower usually has 8 delicate petals, which can be shaped like a daisy, have a tubular shape, or be so frizzy that the entire flower looks like one single petal. The double flowers are also available, their heads look like elegant carnation flowers more than a Cosmos head.

Flowers can be used as vase flowers, although they don’t last very long. They can survive up to a week in water, but usually their heads start dropping after a couple of days. Since the heads start producing seeds very fast, flowers should be cut regularly to ensure the plants keep on growing new flowers. Leaving the flowers to produce seeds will slow the production of new flowers. The plant will concentrate all the energy in growing healthy seeds.

The vibrant colours of the plant attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and are a great addition to the bug freindly garden.

How to sow and grow Cosmos

The easiest way to grow Cosmoses in the garden is directly sowing them in April or May(after the frost danger passes). That being said, Cosmoses actually don’t mind being transplanted in the garden, and grow really well when grown from seedlings. Growing from seedlings is a perfect way if you have small amounts of seeds or just want an early start. Seeds can be sown as early as February, by sowing them in well-drained compost. The germination temperature needed is 18-20°C(65-68°F). The seeds will germinate fairly quickly, but the plant will need around 70-90 days to mature fully. The seedlings can be transplanted after the last frost day. They will root themselves easily, but will need rich watering right after the transplant.

Plants don’t require much care, except for the removal of dead flowers and watering. They will thrive in any average soil and don’t require fertilization unless the soil is of extremely poor quality. They tolerate drought well and can survive longer periods without water. The big root system will find enough water. Still, in very extreme heat and drought, watering is advised, or the plants will stay low in height.

Diseases and pests

In very wet and moody summers, plants can develop Powdery mildew, Botrytis, and Fusarium wilt, although they are fairly uncommon. Pests such as spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies love to suck on the flower sap, and will mostly infect the parts of the stem closest to the flowerheads. The lower parts of the stems are a bit more woody and harder to penetrate. This is why cosmoses can be used as decoy plants to keep the vegetables pest-free. Also, they can be used as shade plants in the vegetable garden or even as climbing support for vegetables such as beans and cucumbers.

The delicate Cosmos flowers can be a great addition to the cottage garden, vegetable garden, kitchen garden, or a bed in a regular yard. It will fill it with colors and lush greenery.

Summary:

Height: up to 2m(6.5ft)

Colour: all possible colours

Flower shape: separate petals that can be narrow, wide, tubular, frizzy, and double

Soil: well-drained average soil, drought-tolerant

When to sow: Outside after the last frost date, indoors February- April

Germination temperature: 18-20°C(65-68°F)

Time to mature: 70-90 days, depending on the variety

Garden area: sunny or part-shade, but prefers sun

Flowering period: July to first frost

Maintenance: Low

Atracting: butterflies, bees

Pests: Aphids, spidermites, whiteflies