Can I pinch the top out of cosmos?

[seasalty50]

Grown from seed and really leggy, wondered if pinching the top out will encourage more flowers and a bushier habit or do they just flower on the main stem?

One of mine got eaten by snails and has sprouted two side shoots, both of which are now flowering, so should not be a problem.

I have, however, found that even without pinching out they start by shooting up tall and leggy and then send out lots of side shoots, so they become bushy anyway if left to themselves.

This is cosmos bipinnatus, btw. Not sure what kind you have? My sulphureus are not at all leggy, so I assumed bipinnatus (pinkish rather than orange/yellow flowers)

Tbanks :-)

With cosmos I always to pinch out the top early on, making sure I leave at least two sets of leaves below. The stems thicken up and branch out quickly after this, making for a much sturdier, bushier plant.

Thanks daisy :)

Yep I'd pinch them out :)