I believe it was the Greeks who first named the flower Cosmos. They saw the well-ordered petals around the center and considered it similar to how they believed the Cosmos to be. ‘Cosmos’ means ‘balanced universe’ in Greek.
I know what you’re thinking….”wow! Higgers….you’re so brainy!”….and you’d be right of course…but not just brainy…practical too. Our friend Cosmos is a super practical addition to any cutting garden. It’s easy to grow….has a long flowering period…keeps producing flowers after you cut them…and it lasts well in the vase.
How to grow Cosmos from Seed.
*Either direct sow your Cosmos seeds direct into the soil after threats of frost have disappeared….or sow six weeks earlier in pots…in a greenhouse or on your windowsill. Best just not be in too much of a rush to get them started…one bit of frost and our Cosmos chums will keel over…and you will be all sad…guilty….and be in the shallows of despair….well…maybe. I sow mine from April (undercover)…outside after 15th May… This year I sowed some on March 6th as an experiment in early sowing. I will keep you posted. I noticed that the wonderful flower farm ‘Organic Blooms’ sows in March…although they are in the southwest, which will account for early sowing to some degree.
*Prepare the bed you are going to grow them into…make sure it gets lots and lots of sun and is weed free.
*I thin my seedlings to a foot apart…many other flower folk sow two feet apart….either way your plants will need staking if the site is exposed.
*Don’t feed your Cosmos as too much nitrogen will give you heaps of green growth but few flowers…a poorish soil is fine.
*When you harvest cosmos flowers…cut them just above a leaf node and this way you will get some more blooms.
FAQ: “Dear Higgsey Baby, Which are the best Cosmos for the cut flower patch?”
I grow three varieties at present.
*Cosmos ‘Purity’ This is a sophisticated and classy lady. If she was a piece of music she would be a jazz standard. Well known and well loved. Uber reliable and the first flowers of summer are like meeting your best mate off the plane after they’ve been away too long.
*Cosmos ‘Sensation’ ‘Sensation’ is like Barbara Cartland on a stem….and who wouldn’t want that in their garden? (Note to self:….that line needs some work.)
*Cosmos ‘Fizzy Rose’ This Cosmos is in its third year in the Higgledy Garden and she is doing extremely well. Like the above two, she is easy to grow. Of the three she would be the youngster…early 20’s…a bit flirty.
If you have any questions then please ask away…you can find me on Twitter or Facebook Should you wish you can join ‘Club Higgledy’ for newsletters and discount codes. (see the right-hand sidebar).
Thank you for reading…I hope you have a wonderful season.
Kind regards
Benjamin Higgledy