Pima County Public Library: Now Sowing: Cosmos (September–November)

Press release from the Pima County Public Library:

PimaLib_SeedLibrary

August 15, 2021

Common Name: Cosmos

Scientific Name: Cosmos Sulphureus

Seed Saving Level: Advanced

Find cosmos seeds in the catalog

Planting: Sow 1/4 inch deep, 12-18 inches apart after the fear of frost has passed. Cosmos like full sun and hot weather since they’re native to arid regions like Mexico and southern Arizona. They don’t mind drought, poor soil or a bit of neglect. Once established, they don’t need to be watered unless there is a prolonged drought. Cosmos germinate in 1-3 weeks and will begin producing flowers in 50-60 days. No need for fertilizer.

Harvesting: Cosmos is an annual with flowers atop a long stem that attract bees and butterflies to your garden. They make great cut flowers. Deadheading will prolong the flowering season.

Seed Saving: If you let the seed heads blow during the fall, cosmos will self-sow. If you want to collect seeds to store or share, remove the dried pods after the flowers have fallen off. Gently rub the pods with your fingers over a paper towel to separate the seeds. Pour into an envelope and let dry for another 6 weeks.

Sources:  

• theSpruce.com
• Almanac.com

This press release was produced by the Pima County Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.