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Cosmos in pots as per Monty

AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,432
in Plants
Towards the end of last night's Chelsea coverage,  Monty advised "Cramming Cosmos into a large pot" to give a good show.
Has anyone ever tried this, and if so how successful was it ? What was the "cramming" distance ?
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  • CatDouchCatDouch Posts: 272
    I’d like to know the answer to this too @AnniD I wasn’t going to bother growing Cosmos this year but as an afterthought I have grown some Cosmos from seed. 
    Last year I had them planted in between dahlias in my cut flower bed, which looked really lovely, but they need so much deadheading and get caught up in the dahlias and it’s a bit of a faff! 
    So I thought I’d have them in a large pot this year, I would definitely like a full display but I wonder how many you can cram in? Hopefully someone will answer 🤞
    South Devon 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 4,270
    @AnniD I have never done it but would do just as he explained cram them in and enjoy.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL.

    BROWN IS A COLOUR   Piet Oudolf
  • Songbird-2Songbird-2 Posts: 1,019
    edited 25 May
    We've done it for the first time this year @AnniD. We normally have them all together in the border but decided to try them in a ( big ceramic) pot for a change. I placed the pots of cosmos, one by one, on the top of the soil to see how many I could get in  the pot, and then planted them out in their designated place. We have got 7 plants in the pot. The cosmos are bought ones this year hence they are still quite small having been pinched out but we normally grow them ourselves. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 4,270
    I think it may depend on if they have been grown individually. I just thought that Monty Don has a tray full and just replanted the lot. Disturbing the roots could be a big problem. Guess we will never know, it did seem like a sudden thought.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL.

    BROWN IS A COLOUR   Piet Oudolf
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,215
    I’m definitely doing that this year (too many seedlings). Thanks, @AnniD.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,432
    Well, l decided l had nothing to lose so l've put them into various pots with an average of around 7 or 8 to a pot. I don't think Monty would describe them as particularly large pots, but they're large enough for me to cope with 😁.
    It's very breezy here and l see the forecast is for chilly winds over the weekend, so l'm keeping them close to the house for the near future where l can keep an eye on them.

    Thanks for all your comments, fingers crossed  :)

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 4,270
    @AnniD Great I am sure they will do well. They will also tolerate poor soil if not too dry.
    There is nothing quite like Cosmos. So many to choose from. annuals that give height are limited Easy to keep the seed too. I have been given seed of Cosmos Brightness.
    One I haven't tried before.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL.

    BROWN IS A COLOUR   Piet Oudolf
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,039
    Surely it depends on the size of the pot you’re using . You can put them quite close together but .
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,241
    With the likelihood of hosepipe bans, I'm inclined to keep as much as possible in pots. At least they can be dunked in water.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • janetfossjanetfoss Posts: 258
    I would like to grow cosmos one day, having never done so. Pots would be my choice of planting, so if you lovely ones doing a 'Monty' suggestion could post your results, I'd be ever so grateful! Thank you.
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