The cosmos have being doing really well over the past few weeks. The varieties Purity and Sensation are quoted as growing to three feet but mine are a good one to two feet higher than that so have certainly needed staking.
I see that the Sonata varieties only grow to two feet so I may try these next year, and they have an RHS AGM.
Talking of shorter varieties I have kindly been given a packet of Sunflower Music Box Mixed which only grow to around two and a half feet.
This yellow one was one of this year’s tall unknown varieties.
Among the various pot marigolds I spotted this yellow one with bright red pinheads in the centre.
As I’ve mentioned recently I have some Pygmy Formula Mixture seeds which grow to less than a foot, which sounds ideal for planters and pots.
Have a good week.
I didn’t grow any sunflowers this year which is probably just as well as no doubt the slugs would have had them along with most other things I grew this year. I’ve picked up a sunflower collection for next year, five different varieties, so I should have a good selection if the slugs leave them alone.
Jo the slugs got all the ones I sowed, it was just a few self-seeders that grew for the parakeets to then chomp. Like you I hope to be growing various varieties next year. xx
I grew ‘Sweet Sixteen’ cosmos and that has grown to around 4ft. A bit too tall for the position it’s in but the flowers are lovely so I don’t mind. I’ll try Sonata next year, thanks for the tip.
Betty as you say they’re lovely flowers. You’re welcome. xx
Cosmos are one of my favourite flowers, they always grow so well and need very little care. Mine have done well this year too and have grown really tall.
That marigold is lovely, it’s great to still have a little colour at this time of year.xxx
Snowbird mine too. I sow them direct and usually do well with them.
If dead headed pot marigolds seem to go on for ever. It sure is. xx
I think it’s especially nice to have some of the shorter sunflowers. Unless they’re grown in a sizable stand, they look kind of gangly and lonely.
Nikki I’ve only grown taller ones before but I agree with you. The bushy, multiheaded ones are okay on their own but the giant singles look better in groups. xx
Small sunflowers make sense. Sunflowers are wonderful but the tall kinds can be over-bearing.
Lucy I agree, but the plot is rather exposed and open so I grow the tall ones for some height. xx
I grow Cosmos ‘Candy Stripe’ which is about 5ft tall at the moment. They have suffered a little in some stormy weather earlier in September. I will do more to support them next year. I grew ‘Sonata mixed’ last year and they are a good plant. For me they don’t work as well for cut flowers but if you’re not growing them for that I would recommend them.
Welly I stake nearly all mine regardless of height. That’s interesting what you say about cut flowers. xx
I’ve never managed to grow Cosmos, which is a shame because I love the chocolate one (well, who wouldn’t?)
Disgruntled hello! Unlike the ones I grow the chocolate one is a perennial –
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=556
I don’t think that I have ever seen any, and do wonder if I would smell the chocolate scent with my poor sense of smell. xx
I love those Cosmos varieties, but like you, I have never known them to grow less than four feet tall. The foliage is so light and feathery though, that they often grow up amongst other plants and get some support that way. Like you, I shall be looking out for shorter varieties next year – the wind has decimated everything these past two weeks. x
Ellie me too, and really like the foliage. I will try to grow them with other plants next year.
It seems that we both with the wind. xx
I grew some Cosmos this year but they were all foliage and no flowers, must have over fed them?! I will try again though as the bees love them. I love the pot marigold, one of my favourite flowers, mine are still going strong at the allotment and really brighten it up.
I managed one tall sunflower this year the only one to survive the slugs but I do love them and the shorter version looks a good idea too.
Annie unlike vegetables most flowers don’t need feeding and will then flower much more profusely. Pot marigolds are mine too, and will keep going until we get frost.
Lucky you, I really missed having no tall singles. The shorter multi-headed ones are better looking. xx