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cosmos

margy jeanmargy jean Posts: 1
in Talkback

I have grown Cosmos and African marigolds from seed.  They are about 6 ins high and still in seed trays. Do I have to pinch the tops out

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Posts

  • flowering roseflowering rose Posts: 1,632

    no,at least I have never done so and bloom o.k.image

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    Don't know about marigolds, but following advice on here last year i pinched out my cosmos several times before finally planting them out - potting them on to bigger pots all the time - and they were the best they have ever been.  So not essential, but worth a tryimage

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,614

    I pot them on into 3 inch pots (7cm if you are metric) so the roots of individual plants don't get tangled.  I pinch out the tops at about 6 inches  to make them branch.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I pinch the tops out, also dont let the cosmos flower until you have big plants, just pick off the buds.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    I've just found this thread because I was looking for advice on Cosmos, so hope you don't me joining in the discussion.

    I sowed mine on 12/4 and already they are quite tall and a bit straggly, I can't pinch them out as they only have one set of leaves.  I have never grown them from seed before and wondered if this is normal or have I done something wrong?

    Thanks.

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    OL - they do sometimes run away with themselvesimage.  You can prick them out into new pots and bury quite a lot of stem to make them sturdier.  And, having done that, i would move them somewhere a bit cooler to grow slowly and steadily. 

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Thanks Chicky, I did wonder about somewhere cooler, do they need to be treated a bit like Sweet Peas?  I will pot them on and out them in the GH, will that work, obviously hotter in the day but cooler at night, or will it be too cool?? Don't want to kill them image

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,614

    Orchid lady, Are they in the house?. They sound like not enough light and too much heat.

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Yes they are, on the windowsill in the back room so they get sunlight from about 11 until sunset.  Should I put them in the GH?

  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811

    Mine have been in an unheated greenhouse in the NE so quite cool for the  last 4 weeks or so. Doing well about 4-5 inches tall in individual 3" pots.

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