Non-flowering cosmos woes

[DDemelza]

A few of us are having problems with non-flowering cosmos, it seems. I have fourteen surviving plants, and of these, only two have budded and bloomed (just now). Twelve are like luxuriant little trees with no buds. (Per pics)

I researched it and it says that there are two main causes for "blind" cosmos.

1. Dud seeds- esp. old seeds.

1. Overfertilising- e.g. with multipurpose plant feeds with large doses of nitrogen. And conditions generally being too cushty- too much manure, plenty of water, etc.

They are among my favourite flowers and it's depressing to see no buds. Anyone else have tales of cosmos woe?

This is the seed packet I used! Good company, right?

Mine were just like this then suddenly came into flower, so hopefully all is not lost just yet!

When did you plant them? If you planted them late is not surprising they haven’t flowered yet.

That is very cheering! But there is no sign of any buds... ok, ok, I'll try to be patient. (Will definitely be out there at 6am checking for buds again)

I planted them April 10thish.

They will!
Mine aren’t blooming yet either- but they always do.

I spent last summer staring woefully at my cosmos that refused to flower, by late summer and early autumn, lots of pink flowers.
I dont know why they were so late, but I'm glad that I didn't give up on them.

I planted and grew o some for my parents last year. Total failure, they reported - good growth and loads of foliagebut not a single flower.
Until they started flowering!
I wish I could remember when they started flowering because I am getting the same complaints again this year...
I do remember that they flowered on into November once they did get started.
All is not yet lost OP.

I am never growing bloody Cosmos again* ... started off very impressed with having actual seedlings TWO DAYS after planting them, but have been sick of looking at the foliage for weeks, was beginning to think they were carrots. 😆

They are finally flowering, but they’re like a forest and I can’t see anything else in my beds. I am going to rip loads out this weekend, will plant some in pots so I can keep them for cutting.

*Am lying, I will grow them again, just not in borders. We were going to put some raised beds in for veg, but I think I might have a cutting garden instead, in summer at least.

My experience same as two posters above, flowering really well now they’ve got going.

I have had the same experience in the past. Then I realised there were two types, one is large, late flowering and the other is smaller and begins flowering early July.
I now only sow the smaller variety in planters.

@Beebumble2

I have had the same experience in the past. Then I realised there were two types, one is large, late flowering and the other is smaller and begins flowering early July. I now only sow the smaller variety in planters.

Interesting ... noted for next year, thank you.

Mid April is late to plant them. Mine were planted at the beginning of March and I’ve had flowers since June.

Thank you, all! These posts are really encouraging. :)

I have bought two different varieties of seeds for next year. (All seeds are half price at Wilko at the moment, btw.) Might grow them all in pots so that they don't take over the beds as you say @whitney168.

I have grown the sea shell mixed, they were the smaller type and have flowered earlier June/July.
I’ve not grown Rubenza.
Thanks for the Wilko information. I’m buying my seeds early this year, in case there’s a shortage again next spring.

Photo of my Cosmos, grown in pots amongst grasses and other plants.

They will be tumbling all over the place by Sept.
That's what I often find with annual seeds as I live in west Scotland and there isn't enough sun quite often to get these things going. We have long daylight but not so much hot sun.

These are my ‘will the bloody things ever flower?’ ... 🤣

(Have been cutting for indoors)

I've just ordered a pack of the seashells. Will try the smaller ones next year, thinned out instead of planting in clumps LOL.

This year's are 'Purity', freebie pack that came with GW magazine. They are lovely, but maybe keep those for my (as yet imaginary) cutting garden and go for smaller type in border.

Mine finally flowered in October last year, think they were probably old seed. No issues this year

If seeds are half price, they'll be trying to get rid of last year's harvest before this year's arrives. But if, come winter, you are seeing half price seeds, they're likely to be a year older than the full price ones - check the date label, often on the back of the packet. Doesn't matter with some seeds (eg beans and peas, which are viable for years) but does with others, notably those in the carrot family, including parsnip, parsley and dill.

Your flowers are beautiful, bee and Whitney.

I must just be patient, then. I'm fairly southern here so would have hoped they would have bloomed by now. I sowed cornflowers on the same day and they have been delighting us since mid-June.

Thanks, meredint. I did know that about parsnips but not about the others. The labels on these are 2023/2024 so fingers crossed.