This is how I start them off, adding more as they grow. I use straight side pots now which means I can get four canes and more plants in them
and by the time it's mid to late summer, they're doing their own thing
These are mange tout, but it's the same principle, and this is the in between sort of stage Just make sure you tie the string to the canes/supports firmly as you go along.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Myself I would put at least 3 cosmos in there, maybe more if they're dwarfing varieties (which I would classify as if the seed pack says max height 90cm or less). Not least because last year I spaced mine "by the book" and made a mental note that they were too sparse, both in pots and borders, and next time to cram more in.
They're so easy to germinate that if you grew them from seed you probably have too many anyway, so you can always thin them out later.
I should have added.. don't be fooled by them being "drought resistant". It may be the case in borders, but I've found that in pots they need plenty of watering.
Yes - any potted plant needs more attention than in the ground @borgadr.
I think people make that mistake often with Mediterranean plants in particular. They assume they need no watering because they're comparing them with plants in a bed/border. Not the same. I've seen people asking on the forum what's wrong with their lavender or rosemary , as it's dying, and it's because they haven't watered them after planting, because of that assumption.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks @borgadr and @Fairygirl. I have 12 of them, so I can definitely risk losing a couple. Good to know about the watering, particularly as I have a pot full of lavender that I've been neglecting 😁
I do too @punkdoc. I've taken to adding a bit of granular slow release stuff on planting, as I'm not using commercial compost in the containers, and even when I did, there wasn't a huge amount of it, so it saved having to remember doing liquid food. I use turf at the bottom, then a layer of manure - often mixed with garden soil, then whatever else I have to finish filling them up. I use tomato food later on in the summer/early autumn which keeps them going well, and there's less planting/other jobs needing my attention, so I can usually remember to do it.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I use straight side pots now which means I can get four canes and more plants in them
and by the time it's mid to late summer, they're doing their own thing
These are mange tout, but it's the same principle, and this is the in between sort of stage
Just make sure you tie the string to the canes/supports firmly as you go along.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
These are the pots I tend to use now - much better capacity
Good luck with it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They're so easy to germinate that if you grew them from seed you probably have too many anyway, so you can always thin them out later.
I think people make that mistake often with Mediterranean plants in particular. They assume they need no watering because they're comparing them with plants in a bed/border. Not the same. I've seen people asking on the forum what's wrong with their lavender or rosemary , as it's dying, and it's because they haven't watered them after planting, because of that assumption.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I feed my Sweet Peas as soon as I plant them, using Tomato feed once a week.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I use tomato food later on in the summer/early autumn which keeps them going well, and there's less planting/other jobs needing my attention, so I can usually remember to do it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...