Cosmos are BEAUTIFUL!

Garden Forum » Archives in the Garden Forum » Annuals in the Garden-Archives » Annuals-Archives #4-2006 » Cosmos are BEAUTIFUL! « Previous    Next »

Author Message   Daylily  Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 - 07:21 am EST :    Oh my goodness.. I was searching around the web looking at different flowers and ran into "Cosmos"! They are just so beautiful! http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/flowers/cosmos/cosmos.html Does anyone grow these? Do you think they would do well in Michigan? I LOVE the Candy Stripes ones pictured here, does anyone grow these?: Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Ntrldy  Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 - 10:34 am EST :    My experience: Agree that cosmos are a very pretty plant and I like both the flowers and delicate foliage. There are most likely many colors and sizes.. the ones I have tried have grown to about 4 feet tall and need about 18-24 inches in between. This year I arranged them in clusters of 4 plants to a clump so they can support one another. They will become 'leggy' and tend to flop. I give them some space in between and put shorter and bushier annuals among them such as balsam, portulaca, petunias. Ntrldy - Oklahoma, Zone "6"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 - 11:24 am EST :    Cosmos are super easy to grow and I think would do well for you there in Michigan. For the past two years I have started them from seeds sown in early spring. I would say I had like 90% germination..seemed like 100%. They can get quite tall by the end of the season, so don't plant them in the front of the bed. I haven't grown the one you show pictured, but here are a couple I had last year Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Daylily  Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 - 02:47 pm EST :    Wow Suzy.. those are SO beautiful! I especially love the ones in the 2nd picture! Thank you both so much for all the info! Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 08:33 pm EST :    Jennifer here is another one from my garden. This is a picture I took today. Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Daylily  Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 08:22 pm EST :    Oh my! That one is stunning!! What's the name of that one? I'm definitely going to grow some Cosmos next season! (You can't buy them already grown, you have to do them by seed, right?) I was reading about the Candy Stripe ones and it said you plant the seeds only 1 inch apart, is that what you do for yours, too? It seemed kinda close to me! I guess it's because they need the support? Thanks so much for sharing your pics with me! Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 10:02 pm EST :    I think that one might be called 'Picotee'. The seeds were given to me and its hard to tell! I did whats called "Winter Sowing" this year (and last year too) and started these seeds in plastic to go boxes. I did sow fairly close together. The plants start out very small and even as they grow the foliage is very light and airy so they could actually grow that close together. I think what they might mean though is that you can start them this way, but you wouldn't necessarily have to leave them that close. They could be moved to whereever you want them. I have actually seen them for sale. I think sometime in June. But they are so easy to grow from seed it would be a waste of money in my opinion to buy a plant for $3-4 when you could grow oodles of them for the cost of a seed packet (or postage if you trade seeds). I would be happy to send you some from my garden. Here is a pic of my seed nursery earlier this year. I started them in February I think. The to go boxes are like little greenhouses, so even with a frost they were protected. This is what the weather was looking like in March and the babies were unharmed. Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Sunnyday2day  My Favorite Photo My Weather Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 04:55 am EST :    Lisa, yes, Cosmos do wonderfully in Michigan! I must warn you, though...they self-seed like crazy. In the spring you can buy them from the nursery as seedlings. I did that before and that gives them a jump-start in your garden...earlier, longer blooms. If you've got the space for them they are a wonderful addition to the garden. As Suzy says, they get tall, so bear that in mind. :) Cute profile pic, BTW! :) Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "5"   Daylily  Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 11:19 am EST :    Thanks for sharing those pics with me, Suzy! That is really interesting. It must be fun! You would really send me some from your garden?? Are you sure? That is so sweet of you! How can I get in touch with you to discuss all the specifics? I'd be happy to pay for some! I really need to plant something tall in back of my new flower bed too! Tanya~ Thanks for sharing your info with me, too! And thanks for the compliment! I love this forum. You are all so sweet, and patient with me through all my questions. lol Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Daylily  Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 11:29 am EST :    Ok I was just thinking that I don't know if I'm assuming correctly. Did you mean you can send some flowers or some seeds, Suzy? Sorry if I misunderstood. Now I'm thinking that they're so tall that you probably can't mail them unless you had a really long box and that'd probably be a pain to find! Just let me know if I misunderstood. I'm new to all of this and easily confused. LOL! Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 07:45 pm EST :    Jennifer I was talking seeds, but I have also sent plants in the mail too. Its a lot of fun. Now is not a great time though because of the heat. They would wilt along the way . And they will die in the winter because they're annuals. But in the fall I can send you some seeds then you can start them in a little container outside like I did. It's super duper easy. Almost stupidly easy. You can even use butter dishes or 2 liter cook bottles. Doesn't matter if they get snowed on even. Or if you have a little set up inside you can start them inside and bring them out after the frost are over. I just don't have that kind of room or set up so the outdoor wintersowing thing is great for me. Take a look at this link for more info. http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/wtrsow/ Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Daylily  Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 09:05 pm EST :    Thanks again for all the info, Suzy! I can't wait til fall! I'm so excited to grow these! Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 10:26 pm EST :    I have a few more to add to the hit parade This one is a giant Double Click Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Michelelee  My Weather My Time Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 12:20 am EST :    Suzy, your Double Click came out so nice. I grew several, most looked like 'Seashells'. I also grew 'Sonata White' this year. Huge blooms and only 2 feet tall and 'Yellow Garden'. Lemon yellow flowers. A tall one. Annies Annuals has a gorgeous one called 'Apricot. They only sell the plants though. Next year.... Michelelee - WA, Zone "7-8"   Suzyqt1968  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 08:18 pm EST :    Hiya Michelle, That is the best of the bunch so far. I even got singles in the mix. I planted this double one in part shade and it hasn't been all that sturdy as a result. Kind of floppy. You and I have such similar tastes. I saw 'Apricot' and immediately put it on my wanted list! If I find a seed source I will share with you. Suzyqt1968 - Washington, Zone "7-8"   Serenitybench  Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 07:43 pm EST :    Daylily....First of all what a pretty picture. How do you #1. get it that size on here to post? #2. get it to LOOK like that. It looks like a painting. So pretty. ! thanks for taking the time to share. Serenitybench - Pa., Zone "5a"   Daylily  Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 09:24 pm EST :    Suzy~ Thanks so much for sharing those wonderful pics! I can never get enough of them! Serenitybench~ I really wish those Candy Stripes ones were mine! They're just a picture I found online! Aren't they gorgeous? Daylily - Mi, Zone "5b"   Serenitybench  Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 05:13 am EST :    OH! So you didnt take the picture. Gottcha. So,. how did it post so large? How did you do that part? GO slow. Start from the beginning. Mine all post small. Thanks for your time. Much appreciated. :) Serenitybench - Pa., Zone "5a"   Sunnyday2day  My Favorite Photo My Weather Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 06:04 am EST :    Mimi...you size your pics the same way you did your profile pic...I would guesstimate that daylily's pic is around 750-800 or so. So, instead of typing in 150 like you do for the profile pic, you type in 750. That's a beautiful macro pic that looks especially wonderful in the larger size. Most of my posts are around 700. Hope this helps...:) Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "5"   Serenitybench  Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 05:55 pm EST :    Where are you saying to do this ? NOT in the resizer here. EVERY time I try to use it it says...File not selected. Its so frustrating. I follow the directions and it keeps saying the exact same thing. For months. Serenitybench - Pa., Zone "5a"   Serenitybench  Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 06:00 pm EST :