Contents
This guide will show you how to plant your cosmos for beautiful blooms all season. You’ll learn what type of soil to use, how to space your plants, and how to water them properly.
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Introduction
Welcome to our guide on how to plant your cosmos for beautiful blooms. In this guide, we will provide you with everything you need to know to get started, including what kind of cosmos to plant, where to plant them, and how to care for them. With a little bit of effort, you can have a beautiful cosmos garden in no time!
What You Will Need
Before you begin, you will need to gather a few supplies. You will need:
-A trowel or small shovel
-A pots or planting bed
-Cosmos seeds
-Organic potting soil
-Water
Once you have gathered your supplies, you are ready to plant your cosmoses!
Step One: Choose the Right Location
When it comes to planting, cosmos are pretty darn easygoing. They’re not terribly choosy about soil type, as long as it’s well-drained. (In fact, they’re often used in gardens where the soil is poor.) They also don’t mind being crowded a bit, so you can plant them closer together than you would some other annuals.
They do like full sun, though—at least six hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal. If you live in a hot climate,cosmos will appreciate a little afternoon shade to prevent the flowers from wilting in the heat of the day.
Step Two: Prepare the Soil
Cosmos grow best in light, sandy soil that is well drained. If your soil is heavy, add organic matter such as compost or peat moss to help lighten it. You can also improve drainage by mixing in perlite or vermiculite. Another option is to build a raised bed for your cosmos.
The ideal time to plant cosmos is in the spring after the last frost date. You can start seeds indoors about four to six weeks before you plan to plant them outside. Fill seed-starting pots with a potting mix and sow the seeds on the surface of the soil. Do not cover them with soil because they need light to germinate. Water the pots and place them in a warm sunny spot until the seeds sprout, which should take about 10 days.
Step Three: Sow the Seeds
Now that you have your soil all prepared, it is time to sow your cosmos seeds. You can either sow them directly into the ground or start them indoors in seed trays. If you are sowing them directly, make sure to do so after the last frost date in your area.
To sow the seeds, create a small indent in the ground with your finger and then drop one seed into each indent. Once all of the seeds are in, lightly cover them with soil. Be sure not to plant the seeds too deep, as they need light to germinate.
If you are starting your cosmos indoors, plant three or four seeds per pot or cell. Place the pots in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Once the seedlings have sprouted, thin them out so that only the strongest one remains in each pot.
Step Four: Water and Fertilize
After planting, give your cosmos a good drink of water. For best results, water with a garden hose end nozzle set to “shower.” Water slowly and deeply so that the roots have time to absorb the moisture. Once the plants are established, they will be much more drought tolerant.
Fertilize your cosmos regularly with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. You can apply the fertilizer once a month or every six weeks, following the product directions.
Step Five: Deadhead
Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from your plant. This encourages the plant to put its energy into producing new blooms, rather than setting seed. You can deadhead by snipping off the flower heads at the stem, or simply pinching them off with your fingers.
Step Six: Enjoy the Blooms!
After all your work, it’s finally time to enjoy the blooms! Cosmos flowers typically last about a week on the plant, but you can extend their vase life by cutting them in the morning and keeping them in a cool location out of direct sunlight. Enjoy your cosmos all summer long!
