I'm picking up on an old post here I know... but its October and some of my cosmos still haven't flowered! I was heart broken to have to cut them down today, as the wind is taking its toll on them. What did I do wrong?
It's probably down to your soil being too good. When I first grew them in my poor garden soil many years ago they flowered well, then I started manuring or composting the beds and since then all I get is huge ferny plants that don't start to flower until mid-late October. I cut my last two right back yesterday for the same reason, they got so big they got blown over and were laying on the lawn. Grow them on poor soil and treat them hard and they flower all summer long.
I've decided to grow Cleome next year instead of Cosmos. I grew them this year and they've been flowering non-stop since June and they look really weird close-up, but they did get to over 6ft - before they flopped over onto the lawn.. so I'll stake them next year.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Yes, I think cosmos are wonderful as late flowering trees, but you have to be able to wait and wait and not have the wind or frost batter them before they come out. Worth planting in rich soil, I think, for later blooms, if the spot is sheltered. As Pete says, very poor soil will made for earlier flowers and regular sized plants.
We are very lucky to get Cosmos to flower at all in this country, as botanically speaking they are short day flowers [ those that require at least 12 hours darkness to flower ], that is why they tend to flower so late. Some people think you can get round the problem, by saving seed from plants that do flower early.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
My cosmos has finally started flowering this week, grown in enriched clay soil. A few branches got blown down and half-snapped, but still managed to flower!
I haven't had the issue that others have had with Cosmos. All mine flowered and have been composted for over a month now. I am much further south than most so maybe that's a factor. Cleome seem interesting @Pete.8 Thanks for the heads up , never heard of them. I'm going to give those a try next year as well.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Thanks for all the information, I'm up in Yorkshire so usually not great summers. But this year has been exceptionally hot,, maybe that had something to do with it. I must admit, the first few years I grew cosmos I was very new to gardening, so didn't really think too much about it...and they grew brilliant! Now I'm into it a bit more, and looking after them better they aren't as good. I'm looking after them too well!
I'm in Yorkshire too, but with well-drained poor sandy soil. My cosmos started flowering in August from a mid-May sowing, and are still going strong.I expect it won't be long before they get clobbered by frost though.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Posts
When I first grew them in my poor garden soil many years ago they flowered well, then I started manuring or composting the beds and since then all I get is huge ferny plants that don't start to flower until mid-late October.
I cut my last two right back yesterday for the same reason, they got so big they got blown over and were laying on the lawn.
Grow them on poor soil and treat them hard and they flower all summer long.
I've decided to grow Cleome next year instead of Cosmos.
I grew them this year and they've been flowering non-stop since June and they look really weird close-up, but they did get to over 6ft - before they flopped over onto the lawn.. so I'll stake them next year.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I came across this article that gives more info and how to plan for earlier flowers
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-JSSSharedLibrary/default/dw77d5147e/assets/information/8307-cosmos-production.pdf
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Cleome seem interesting @Pete.8 Thanks for the heads up , never heard of them. I'm going to give those a try next year as well.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'