Sowing and Growing Cosmos

Cosmos, also known as Cosmea or Mexican aster , is a beautiful annual plant. The flower, which originates from Central America, does well in our climate and needs little care. Cosmos blooms mainly with white, red, bright and light pink flowers and is very suitable as a cut flower. Cosmos is also highly recommended for the kitchen garden. Besides flowering beautifully, the plant also attracts many pollinators.

Sowing and growing cosmos

Cosmos (Cosmos Bipinnatus) is an annual plant in the composite family. The flowers are usually red, pink and white, but there is also an orange variety. Depending on the variety, the plants grow up to about 120 cm tall and attract many bees, bumblebees and butterflies. They are beautiful flowering plants, very suitable for high borders.

Sowing cosmos

Pre-sowing can be done from mid-March to mid-April, indoors. Directly in the garden is also possible, from mid-April to the end of May. The seeds are light germinators, so do not sow too deep. Preferably just rake in a little. Keep the seeds slightly moist. From mid-May the pre-sown plants can be transplanted into the garden.

Position and soil

Cosmos prefers a bright, sunny spot in the garden. The soil should be nutrient-rich and permeable. Clay soil is not suitable. If necessary, improve the soil with compost and/or sand. Cosmea can withstand drought well, only water when the soil is dry for a long time.

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How to care for your cosmos plants

Cosmos requires little care. Water only when the soil is dry. Removing the wilted flowers ensures that more flowers are produced. By lightly pinching the top of the plant, when it is about 5 cm high, it will create more side branches. Cosmos is hardly affected by pests or diseases. Its only enemy is the snail.

Are cosmos bee- and/or butterfly-friendly?

The flowers of cosmos contain a lot of nectar and pollen. They attract many bees, bumblebees and other insects.

Cosmos in the vegetable garden

Because cosmos attracts many pollinators, it is a useful plant in the vegetable garden. In addition, it is of course a very pretty flower, suitable as cut flower. As the plant grows tall, keep this in mind when choosing a spot in the vegetable garden.

Is cosmos edible and/or medicinal?

The flowers, and also the twigs, of cosmos are edible. They have a somewhat sweet, fresh flavour. The petals can be used, for instance, as a garnish for salads, sandwiches and drinks. Little is known about medicinal properties.

Please note, we at Dutch Garden Seeds do not give medical advice. Always ask a professional if and how the plant can be used medicinally.

Cosmos in our collection

We have different varieties of cosmos in our range. For example, low-growing, small-flowering and large-flowering. Each variety has a clear description.

Tips

• Remove the dead flowers regularly. This will make the plant bloom longer.
• Pinch the young plants when they are about 5 cm. This promotes the production of side shoots.

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