Cosmos: Freak or Variety

[Fat Bob]

It's the first year I've grown Cosmos from seed and they have been really good, filled the garden with colour and never seem to stop flowering.

However in one corner, this attached Cosmos grew and didn't look like any of the others. I can't seem to find it online either.

Is this just a malformation? or a variety?

[Fat Bob]

Oops. Seashell Cosmos.

Stupid boy, Pike.

[seasprout]

Was just gonna say its quite common.


Surely its "dont tell him your name Pike!"

[Fat Bob]

Rank beginner sorry. When seeds germinate I still exclaim they've hatched.

Don't tell him your name.. was a classic, but I think the Stupid boy.. was more apt.

[Two_Sheds]

we have a friend called Pikey. Daft booger he is

[Finedon.Dandy]

Thats gorgeous - I shall look out for some of those seeds for next year.

[BumbleB]

Thats really nice. I hope you save some seeds.

[Fat Bob]

Thats gorgeous - I shall look out for some of those seeds for next year.

Thats really nice. I hope you save some seeds.

I'm still learning about seed gathering.

If the flower head dies, can I then take the seeds and dry them out or do I have to let them dry on the plant?

If I know how to do it, you're welcome to some seeds.

[Shirley Sherriffs]

Take the seed

Hi bob

I gather seed from loadsa flowers (far more than I can possibly sow /grow but I cant resist the free bounty nature gives us.

My first and the guide for most of what I do was stunning deep plum /orange french marigold. When the flower wilts just deadhead the flower,the petals dry after a day or 2 and yr left with a little tuft of seeds, unless like pansies they are in a little round pea sized pod. I just snip the seed head off into a wee paper bag and keep it dry- remember to label it. When they are dry just a squeeze will explode the seeds out of the pod or in the case of marigolds gently pull the dead head off the stalk and the seeds are in your fingers.
These cosmos look fabulous which variety are they.

[Fat Bob]

I think they are just Seashell Cosmos. I don't know if there any any sub-varieties beyond that.

Thanks for the dead-heading tip, I've a load of dwarf marigolds I can practice on.