Cosmos

Just 25 years ago, Cosmos flourished in my very sunny garden. A heavy summer rain would bend their stems and soak their petals, but when the air dried out, up they’d pop, refreshed and ready to go. The most easily-found varieties originate from C. bipinnatus. All range in color from white to red and every shade in between.

Today, my garden’s brightest spots receive around four hours of full sun per day, which is not up to the recommended six or more hours. When Cosmos are grown in less than ideal light conditions, they tend to stretch beyond their stated maximum height. This year I’ll give one of the shorter varieties a try. Cosmos ‘White Pop Socks’ is said to grow just 28 inches tall. In my sun-challenged garden, it might top out at three feet.

For earliest bloom, Cosmos can be started early indoors four weeks before the last frost. But if you have six hours of full sun, and four months of hot summer temperatures, seeds can be direct sown as long as the soil is above 60 degrees F. Whichever method you choose, Cosmos will bloom approximately three months from sowing.

Marigold (Tagetes)

We tend to take Marigolds (Tagetes, pronounced tah-JEE-tees) for granted, either liking or hating their signature scent and waxy petals. In Discovering Annuals, author Graham Rice admits he prefers the French types (Tagetes patula), specifically the taller singles, for their adaptability. He avoids using the African types (Tagetes erecta). which he compares to plastic oranges on sticks. Despite their common names, both originated in Mexico.

The Aztecs bred the marigold for increasingly large blooms. When the Spanish invaded the region in the 1500s, they took marigold seeds back to Spain and then exported them to France and northern Africa. The seeds grew wild in Africa, especially the large double-flowered types. So when seeds, which originated in North America, were imported back into the U.S., they became known as African marigolds. The smaller-flowered types had been cultivated in France, and so became known as French marigolds.

1. Sow seeds 6 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.
2. Firm soil lightly, water and keep evenly moist.
3. Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.