Cosmos: Light Flowers For Your Flowerbeds
Cosmos, which provide continuous blooming throughout the summer, are essential flowers for successful flower beds. Here is everything you need to know about these light and colorful flowers, their cultivation, and the selection of varieties.
Why sow cosmos in the garden?
Cosmos or Cosmos bipinnatus are annual flowers from the daisy family. Native to Mexico, they bloom in France from June until frost.
They are highly appreciated by gardeners for their ease of cultivation and the light touch they bring to flower beds.
They enjoy a sunny exposure and well-drained soil, even if it's average or poor. Their cultivation is child's play as it only requires abundant watering and cutting off the faded flowers as you go to stimulate blooming.
Note: don't hesitate to use these light and colorful flowers to make rustic bouquets! They hold well in a vase.
In gardens exposed to wind, it can also be useful to stake the tallest specimens.
Which variety of cosmos should you choose?
Cosmos offer a wide range of colors, with white, yellow, orange, pink, or red flowers. Their height varies from 60 cm to 120 cm depending on the variety.
In gardens, two species are mainly found:
• Cosmos bipinnatus with white, pink, or red flowers.
• Cosmos sulphureus, less common, which produces smaller flowers in shades between yellow and orange.
It should also be noted that the Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is the only perennial cosmos species capable of blooming again in our latitudes. This species attracts many gardeners due to its better hardiness (-5°C), its original dark purple color, and its slight chocolate scent ...
How to grow cosmos seedlings?
You can sow cosmos seeds under cover, in a greenhouse, or directly in the ground.
Under cover, sowing is done at the beginning of April. Slightly bury the seeds. Keep them warm and water regularly. You can transplant the seedlings 3 weeks later.
You can also sow directly in place in mid-May. Broadcast the seeds for a more natural effect. Lightly cover the seeds with a small hand rake, firm the soil, and water.
Water very regularly until the young plants appear. When your plants have reached a few centimeters, thin them out to keep only one plant every 30 cm or so.
Note: Sowing is easy, but be careful! Watch out for slugs that can destroy your young plants.
