I live in South West France, hot summers and not much rain ! I absolutely love Cosmos, always a brilliant display throughout the summer from early June onwards. I have a white and green garden and gazebo white is one of my favourites, thoroughly recommend this plant, a bonus to be able to save the seeds for next year !!!
i guess you are thinking about next spring, I see you are a retired gardener, so you can get a good variety of colours from Sarah Raven (not cheap) and even some 'white' seeds will turn out pink . You can get plug plants too, but growing from seed is much cheaper.
They must have seeds in France too because whenever we go there, the fields have huge wide strips of cosmos planted next to them. They look terrific. And they seem to continue to flower much later in the year.
I know Picotee and Sea shells were on sale in Wilkinsons last spring - don't think they are difficult to get hold of. Check out the seed catalogues this winter and GC's etc next spring.
I grew Cosmos from seed for the first time this year and they turned out to be a show stopper! I sowed the seed in the ground, amongst other newly planted shrubs which eventually disappeared under the huge Cosmos which grew to shoulder height. They were the mixed pink and white variety. They were slug proof, gorgeous to behold and made good cut flowers too. The bees were constantly busy on them and I am loathe to clear them away even now (September) when they are starting to fall over. I have saved seed and next year will give them a larger growing site and stake them too. One tip, I wished I had sown seed in pots as it was hard to weed the bed until the Cosmos seedlings were large enough to recognise.
If you have a greenhouse or conservatory Susie,start seed in trays then individual pots. You will have stronger plants. More for you to enjoy. They are beautiful.
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What are 10 Cosmos, or do you want seeds from 10 different varieties.
i guess you are thinking about next spring, I see you are a retired gardener, so you can get a good variety of colours from Sarah Raven (not cheap) and even some 'white' seeds will turn out pink . You can get plug plants too, but growing from seed is much cheaper.
They must have seeds in France too because whenever we go there, the fields have huge wide strips of cosmos planted next to them. They look terrific. And they seem to continue to flower much later in the year.
I think this is what Tim is referring to -
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/flowers/10-cosmos-to-grow/5245.html?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=View%20feature&utm_campaign=GW%20weekly%20newsletter%2003%2F09%2F2015
I know Picotee and Sea shells were on sale in Wilkinsons last spring - don't think they are difficult to get hold of. Check out the seed catalogues this winter and GC's etc next spring.
I grew Cosmos from seed for the first time this year and they turned out to be a show stopper! I sowed the seed in the ground, amongst other newly planted shrubs which eventually disappeared under the huge Cosmos which grew to shoulder height. They were the mixed pink and white variety. They were slug proof, gorgeous to behold and made good cut flowers too. The bees were constantly busy on them and I am loathe to clear them away even now (September) when they are starting to fall over. I have saved seed and next year will give them a larger growing site and stake them too. One tip, I wished I had sown seed in pots as it was hard to weed the bed until the Cosmos seedlings were large enough to recognise.
If you have a greenhouse or conservatory Susie,start seed in trays then individual pots. You will have stronger plants. More for you to enjoy. They are beautiful.