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When to plant cosmos/dahlias out

SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
in Problem solving
First time gardener here! I've grown some cosmos from seed and dahlias from tubers. They have been in my greenhouse and seem to be growing well, but how big should they be before planting in the garden? I'm worried if I put them out when they are too small they will be more susceptible to being dug up/eaten. Photos of how big they currently are...
Many thanks 
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  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42

  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42

  • JacksGardenJacksGarden Posts: 36
    I've got my cosmos planted out, but they are a little bigger. A few are flowering already too. Beautiful. 

    Perhaps plant out a few, and keep a few back for if anything happens. 

    That's what I do with tender veggies like courgettes that could be hit by late frosts. 
    Gardener of a driveway pot garden - flowers one side, veg the other and a car in the middle. I am so looking forward to the day we can move into a house with a bigger garden.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd start putting the dahlias outside for a good while each day. They're plenty big enough  :)
    Watch out for slugs though - they're very attracted to them - unfortunately.

    I don't grow cosmos now, but I'd think you could start hardening those off as well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    The dahlias looks a good size, the cosmos a little small (my cosmos are around the same size).
    The thing to remember is that they need to be "hardened off" before planting out, that is, become accustomed to outside temperatures. 
    Have a look here
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/hardening-off-tender-plants
  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
    Thank you all, that's very helpful. I'll give the cosmos a bit longer in the greenhouse and start hardening off the dahlias. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Probably wise to take @AnniD's advice on the cosmos. I've not grown it for a very long time!
    The only thing to watch for [apart from the slugs] is rough weather for the dahlias. That can knock them back a bit too. I've had mine outside for a little while, but they're sheltered from the worst of the weather - wind in particular  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    My cosmos have been out for a while and are flowering. They're a dwarf variety so not a great deaI bigger than that. don't think cosmos get eaten by slugs/snails (at least they don't in my garden). Dahlias will need alllll the slug protection, though.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They do get eaten by slugs in mine🙁
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    'SweetPea 2022 Just wondered if you have pinched out the tops of the Cosmos. That will help them bush out. Yes harden them off really well that will hopefully keep the slugs at bay as they will be tougher.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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