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Cosmos not germinating - again!

GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
in Plants
This is the second year I have had problems with germinating cosmos - all varieties. I did a quick trawl of old messages and it seems as if there is a general problem. The ones which have germinated are still at the two leaf stage after 2 weeks. Is anyone else struggling again this year? Where do I go from here? Advice needed! Is there a reliable company to use? I have seeds from Sarah Raven & T& M.
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Shouldn’t have a problem with germinating cosmos, I only ever buy from eBay, 99p a packet.  What compost did you use, assume you didn’t use a propagator, they won’t like that,  
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2018
    I sowed my cosmos on 4th April and put them in my heated propagator (only until they're up) and now have over 50 hardening-off in my cold frame. They're about 4-5"
    I have also noticed many seedlings in the garden approx 2-3" that self-seeded from last year.
    I did read in a gardening mag. last year there was a problem with mixed cosmos, but that related to the mix itself. Of my mixed cosmos last year 90% were red 10% pink and 0% white.
    This year I bought separately - cosmos Purity, Sensation Pinkie and Daydream

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I have had white cupcakes and double click white this year. Germination more than adequate within a few days, I didn't use any bottom heat, just a plastic lid over the seed tray. I currently have 150 in 3 inch pots, ready for hardening off.
  • PurplerainPurplerain Posts: 1,053
    All sown in the same compost at the same time:
    Pinkie Tall = fine
    Cranberry = fine
    Xanthos = terrible, still at the cotyledon stage 4 weeks later (really wanted that one)
    Brightness mixed= terrible as above

    I believe there is a problem. They germinate quickly and yet some types are just sitting there doing nothing. At first I put it down to the cold, but not now.
    SW Scotland
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
    Mmm - mixed results. Oh well I'll just keep on trying although it is too late this year now, they would never flower. I have just bought some plugs to help me through my cosmos deprivation!  Thanks all.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They're really quick once they get going and, with any luck, they'll last at least until late October - especially in the 'sunny south' so I'd sow a few anyway.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I'm sowing my last batch now, for autumn flowering.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    You need heat with cosmos...if they don't reach 20-21 degrees regularly they won' tgerminate
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Mine have been outside in variable London weather in pots for the last week and are just now shooting.
  • Beaus MumBeaus Mum Posts: 3,554
    Grannybee said:
    Mmm - mixed results. Oh well I'll just keep on trying although it is too late this year now, they would never flower. I have just bought some plugs to help me through my cosmos deprivation!  Thanks all.
    Hi granny bee it’s not too late to sow more. I am going to do a couple of trays in the next couple of days 
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