Watering Details: Drought tolerant. Water regularly while establishing, then water only during dry, hot spells.

If you started seeds early before the weather got consistently warm, the cosmos’ days to maturity (in other words, bloom) might be delayed. Cold soil and cosmos seeds do not mix, as the seeds require warmth to germinate. Harvest these stripy round courgettes when they reach the size of a golf ball to enjoy their deliciously sweet flavour. But if you prefer to wait for bigger fruits, cut them in half, stuff with your favourite filling and bake in the oven. Succession sow your courgette ‘Boldenice’ seeds from March to June and enjoy bumper crops through to the end of October. Terms and conditions

To the full extent permitted by law Suttons Consumer Products will not accept liability for any loss, damage, injury or death arising from this giveaway beyond its reasonable control. Suttons Consumer Products does not accept any liability for the acts of any third-party Prize provider. Here are a few popular varieties with their days to maturity. There is a huge range from 56-110 days, so if you have different varieties growing in your garden and some plants aren’t flowering, reference this table or your seed catalogs to review the days to maturity. Variety

Sow Cosmos seed from March to May at a depth of 3mm (1/8″) in a good quality seed compost, and cover the seeds with a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite. Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C (64-77F) or seal it inside a polythene bag. Keep the soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light as this aids germination which usually takes 7-15 days.There is absolutely no cosmos like this beauty. The unique color reminds us of ‘Distant Drums’ roses - watercolored petals start out a soft apricot with a dusty lavender reverse and fade to a buttery yellow. Variations amongst the blooms include some flowers with a mauve ring at the throat. A bit of separation between the petals conjures a pinwheel with snipped dovetail edges. A must grow for event work. This jump start will help the cosmos reach maturity while the days are still shorter than they will be during the peak of summer. You can then start a new round of seeds in late spring and even a third in early summer, which will take longer to bloom. As your early crop starts to wind down, the second (and third) plantings will just be hitting their stride for summer and fall blooms.

Cosmos won’t benefit from that extra care, though. If you have a patch of soil or a neglected garden bed with so-so soil in it, that’s a much better spot for your cosmos flowers. Save the compost-rich beds for heavy feeders, instead. To help promote cosmos blooms, plant seeds or transplants in a location that receives full sun for at least 8 hours per day. Make sure the soil is well-draining and don’t overwater them. Avoid adding any fertilizer high in nitrogen since that will promote leaf growth instead of flowers. Suttons Consumer Products or its agencies will not be responsible for the non-inclusion of entries as a result of technical failures or otherwise, including any such failure which is within the control of the Suttons Consumer Products or its agencies. Proof of submission of entry is not proof of receipt of entry.Sow Cosmos seed from March to May at a depth of 3mm (1/8") in a good quality seed compost, and cover the seeds with a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite. Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C (64-77F) or seal it inside a polythene bag. Keep the soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light as this aids germination which usually takes 7-15 days. Make sure to grow your cosmos on the southern side of anything taller than them so they don’t spend hours in the shadows cast by the taller object. This could be a wall, mammoth sunflowers, your garden shed…take a look before you plant. These cosmos are planted next to a wall of vines, but they still receive enough light because they’re on the southern side.

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Extra Value Plugs

The winners will be randomly selected from all valid entries received during the promotional period within 2 working days of the Closing Date. Cut Flower: Pinch growing point when the plant is 1’ tall to promote multi-stem growth. Harvest when flower buds are starting to open but before pollination occurs to ensure a longer vase life. Single flowers bloom 4-6 days when using flower food. The bloom period can be extended by harvesting stems with several buds at differing maturities to stagger blooming times. Suttons Consumer Products may substitute the Prize for a prize of an equal or greater value if, for any reason, the original Prize is unavailable. Cosmos prefer to grow in dry conditions, relying most heavily on regular irrigation only when they’re young seedlings. As native plants to Mexico and the Southwestern US, cosmos have adapted to be drought-tolerant plants. Light apricot colored petals fading to pink at the center with pink on the underside of flowers. As 3-4” blooms age they fade to a creamy yellow providing ever changing color in your garden and flower arrangements summer through fall. Cosmos attract pollinators of all kinds making them a great companion plant in your vegetable garden. Plants are drought tolerant and their finely textured leaves and stems will add airy interest to your garden and floral arrangements.