Growing Cosmos from seed- any tips?

[Littl3lim3]

?

I grew some last year as I got free seeds and have just bought another packet today.

They’re dead easy to grow. I don’t think you need any tips. I kept mine inside until they were a couple of inches tall and it was warm enough. Put them straight into the ground and they just grew and grew.

I was about to use the same expression as @DaffodilDandilion 'dead easy'

Possibly one of the easiest flowers from seed. The only thing to be careful of is not to put outside too early. I lost some last year as they froze in their pots. But I planted more and they bloomed well, although a bit later than normal.

Slug love ‘em.

I grew them from seed last year. Threw the seeds in a tray and planted them out when they were big. Keeping them alive when in the garden is a battle with the wind and slugs. But if you grow enough it’s ok to lose a few.

only tip from me would be too not sow too many! They are sooo easy to grow, and grow so well in the garden that last year I ended up with them slightly taking oer! I also ended up giving loads of young plants away to friends as i had deifnitely sown too many!
Great to fill gaps in borders though and flower for a really long time. Depending whih variety you grow you may wnat to pinch out the tips to prevent them becoming too tall and encourge them to be more bushy.

oh, and oddly the slugs never touch mine , although I definitaly have lots of slugs in the garden.

Love them, not quite as easy as some things I find. I sow in modules and keep inside as above then harden off.

I know the whole point of cosmos is to have flower heads swaying in the breeze but they can get a bit leggy. You can bush them out by means of a Chelsea-chop.

I sowed into a small pot with a bag over then, in April last year, straight outside, then transplanted late spring. Dead headed and they lasted until October.

Ooops, just saw that Ecosralayce said that before me.

Easy indeed. Be aware that some varieties are larger than others such as Sensation. These flower later in the season and take up a fair amount of space. Ours we’re still flowering in November! The self seeded ones were great in the veg beds.

Wait a little longer unless you have indoor space, they're not frost hardy

Dead easy, sprout in a few days, you'll be inundated. Pinch them out to make them bushier.

Don’t sow the whole packet. The seeds will last till next year

Agree with everything said above! I’ve grown them from seed the last few years and live them. Super easy.
Although , for the first time I’ve sown some in Feb in my conservatory and they’ve already germinated, so a bit worried I’ve started too soon. I’m wondering g if I should put them in the cold greenhouse to slow them down , but need to be wary of the mouse that I’m sure is in there

I'm going to sow some of mine today, in modules indoors. Hoping I can get similar to last year though hopefully blooming a bit earlier.

While we're waiting ....
https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/4382809-the-mystery-of-the-cosmos