Cosmos Sensation Radiance

Cosmos are generally very rewarding and low-maintenance annuals that even a complete beginner can grow without any problems. The 'Sensation Radiance' variety will also reward you with a flood of beautiful pink flowers. You have two options for sowing – either start the plants indoors or sow them directly into the flowerbed. If you choose direct sowing, wait until mid-May, when there is no longer a risk of ground frost. For earlier flowering, however, we recommend starting them in a seed tray, which you can begin as early as the turn of March and April. Cosmos grow relatively quickly, so sowing too early would lead to leggy and weak seedlings. When starting indoors, choose a medium to large seed tray (for example, with 40 or 60 cells) so that the root system has enough space for healthy development. Place 1 to 2 seeds in each cell and cover them with only a very thin layer of substrate, approximately 0.5 cm. Cosmos seeds need warmth to germinate, so place the seed tray in a room with an optimal temperature of 18–21 °C. Under these conditions, the first green leaves will appear very quickly, usually, the germination time takes only 7 to 14 days. Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, which could lead to the sprouts rotting. To ensure your Cosmos form richly branched bushes full of flowers, we recommend pinching the tips. You can do this procedure while the seedlings are still in the seed tray and have at least two to three pairs of true leaves. Transplant them outdoors to the bed only after the last spring frosts. Because the 'Sensation Pinkie' variety grows quite vigorously and tall, maintain a generous spacing of 30 to 40 cm. Choose a fully sunny location with well-drained soil. The advantage of Cosmos is that they do not require over-fertilized soil – on the contrary, in poorer soil, they produce more flowers at the expense of foliage. Harvesting flowers: If you want your Cosmos to last as long as possible at home (usually 5–7 days), the key is early harvesting, ideally in the morning when the plants are most hydrated. The ideal stage for harvesting is when the bud is just beginning to open, but the petals are not yet fully spread out to a horizontal position. If you harvest flowers that have already opened, choose those where the yellow center is still closed (not yet bloomed). Cosmos are 'flower machines'. The more you cut them, the more they will produce. We definitely recommend removing faded flowers (so-called deadheading).