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- Pick a sunny spot in your yard that has well-drained soil.
- Prepare the soil by loosening it with a shovel and mixing in some compost.
- Sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart.
- Water the area regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
- Once the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, thin them out so that they are about 12 inches apart.
- Fertilize the plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage more blooming.
- Enjoy your beautiful cosmos all summer long!
Discover how to plant and grow beautiful cosmos flowers in your garden with this easy guide. Learn about the best time to sow, how to thin out seedlings, and more!
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Pick a sunny spot in your yard that has well-drained soil.
If you’re planting in a raised bed, choose one that’s at least 8 inches deep so your cosmos can spread their roots. You can direct sow cosmos seeds starting in late spring, or start them indoors about 4-6 weeks before your last frost date.
To plant, simply press the seeds into the soil about 1/2 inch deep. Be sure to keep the seed bed moist until they germinate, which should happen within 10-14 days. Once they’ve sprouted, thin the seedlings so they’re about 18 inches apart.
Cosmos are relatively low maintenance plants, but they will need regular watering – especially during hot, dry spells – and occasional fertilizing to keep them looking their best. Deadheading spent blooms will also encourage them to produce even more flowers.
Prepare the soil by loosening it with a shovel and mixing in some compost.
Cosmos flowers are native to Mexico, and they’re perfect for adding a touch of color to any garden. They’re easy to grow and care for, and they bloom from spring all the way through fall. Here’s how to plant and grow flowers cosmos in your own garden.
1. Prepare the soil by loosening it with a shovel and mixing in some compost.
2. To encourage good drainage, make sure the planting bed is slightly elevated.
3. Plant your cosmos seeds or transplants about 6 inches apart.
4. Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Be sure not to over-water, as this can encourage fungal growth.
5. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers.
With just a little care, you’ll soon have a beautiful bed of flowers cosmos blooming in your garden!
Sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart.
Cosmos are one of the easiest annual flowers that you can grow from seed. They will bloom all summer long and into the fall with very little maintenance. Here are some tips on how to get started.
Sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Cosmos will tolerate some shade, but they will produce more flowers if they are grown in full sun. Water the seeds regularly until they germinate, which usually takes about 10 days.
Once the seedlings have emerged, thin them out so that they are about 12 inches apart. Cosmos can be propagated by division in the springtime, or you can take cuttings from new growth in late spring or early summer.
Water the area regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
Water the area regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Cosmos flowers thrive in full sun, so choose a spot in your garden that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. Amend the soil with compost before planting to help improve drainage and add nutrients. Cosmos plants are generally pest- and disease-free, but they can be susceptible to root rot if the soil is too wet.
Once the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, thin them out so that they are about 12 inches apart.
After the last frost of spring, you can sow cosmos seeds directly into your flower bed. Prepare the bed by loosening the soil to a depth of about 6 inches. Mix in some compost or other organic matter to help improve drainage and add nutrients to the soil. Then, simply scatter the seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly press them into place. You don’t need to cover them, as they will need light to germinate. Water well and keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, which should be in 7-14 days.
Fertilize the plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
Cosmos flowers (Cosmos spp.) add a touch of whimsy to any flower garden with their cheerful blooms in shades of pink, purple, red and white. These annuals are easy to grow from seed and will often reseed themselves for the following year. Flowers bloom best in full sun but will tolerate some light shade. Cosmos are not particular about soil type but do appreciate well-drained soil. Amend heavy clay soils with compost prior to planting cosmos flowers.
Deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage more blooming.
If you want your cosmos flowers to keep blooming all season long, make sure to deadhead them regularly. Deadheading means removing the spent blooms from the plant. This encourages the plant to produce more flowers. To deadhead, simply snap the stem of the bloom off at the base, being careful not to damage the rest of the plant.
Enjoy your beautiful cosmos all summer long!
The best time to plant cosmos is in the spring, after the last frost date. Cosmos can be direct-seeded into the garden, or started indoors and then transplanted outside. If you start seeds indoors, plant them about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date.
Cosmos grow best in full sun, but can tolerate some light shade. They prefer well-drained soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
To direct seed, sow cosmos seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. After planting, water gently to keep the soil moist until seeds germinate, which usually takes 7-14 days. Once seedlings emerge, thin them to stand about 10-12 inches apart.
If you started your cosmos seeds indoors, transplant them into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and they have 2-3 sets of true leaves. Space plants 12-18 inches apart in rows spaced 10-12 inches apart. Water well after transplanting and keep soil moist until plants are established.
Once your cosmos plants are growing well, there is no need to fertilize them. In fact, too much fertilizer can cause lush foliage growth at the expense of flower production.
As your cosmos plants begin to bloom, deadhead (or remove) spent flowers regularly to encourage continued flowering throughout the season. You can also cut back plants by a few inches if they become leggy or sparse in bloom.