What I've Learned About Cosmos and Zinnias for U-Pick Flowers

This is our first year growing cosmos for u-pick flowers (and just our 2nd year doing u-pick flowers) and we've found the cosmos to be a standout performer in the garden. Though there a few tricks to growing and maintaining cosmos, we've found them to be pretty easy over all to grow.
The zinnias grew even better for us this year than last year because we got the fertilization right. The wiggle test for zinnias has helped us harvest zinnias at the appropriate time to get the best vase life.

[@muriel7679]

Greetings rom Switzerland. First year I plant cosmos. Your vidéo is full of tips and info. Thanks.

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Love Zinnia's and Cosmos. When I plant them, I do succession planting.

[@marykelly9698]

The unopened flower cup does open in water

[@annermel9121]

I like the wiggle test. Can't wait to try it.

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Looks very pretty, we plant both for our flower beds

[@larkmurry7808]

Merci! Brilliant...

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

Good video. We are always learning on what we can do better next yr. :)

[@debmaren3814]

Thank you for sharing.

[@johnfogarty5468]

Good video! Keep us updated

[@mypreciousgarden]

Thank you for the tips ! :)

[@bobbiechinn9578]

Great video thank you 😊

[@danradtke1663]

Beautiful great job do you advertise your firewood on your flower days?

[@imparticipating]

thank you so much for showing the difference in the stems: wispy vs tougher. I used a wildflower seed mix in my front yard and the only "wildflower" that grew had no flowers on it because the deer kept eating all the buds. When I used my plant ID app it said it was a sulfar/cosmo. The cosmos I grew in my fenced yard are the more wispy type, so I didn't understand why it kept ID-ing it as a cosmo! Thank you again for pointing this part out. This was my first year planting wildflowers and I will keep a closer eye on the ones where the deer can get to so I can get some blooms next year, hahaha. Even just getting one bloom will be a success! hahaha

[@CVenza]

Hey can you show some with color? It would be great to see the cut flowers you harvested.

[@NATUREZABELA]

boa tarde amigo!👍😘

[@anjkovo2138]

👍👍

[@bradgoliphant]

Thank you. Hey, about the cosmos, I know when they are about 10” we should cut them back but you feel like one should continue to clip? Does it send out more bids if you do? Also, do you fertilize your cosmos? I’ve heard they love poor soil! Is this true? Thx

[@LAWandCoach]

3:30 you could just cut the open flower and leave the buds to open in the plant. No need to cut so far back with first cutting.

[@Nancy4133nope]

What fertilizer did you use for zinnia

[@pedrofernandez1214]

How is your soil? It loons pretty sandy. Here in Lake Wales, our soil is basically all sand (except for our raised beds).

[@Rafaelhernandez-ps3vn]

Plant more in the same month so u tell what when and what zones are goood

[@teresacook3724]

Where do you get your seed, or do you harvest your own seed

[@ziartia8129]

Hi, looks great! I'm curious how you irrigate your flower field.... I don't see drip tape and you don't seem to have too many weeds either.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I do overhead irrigation with rain gun sprinklers. We pulled weeds among the rows by hand until the flowers crowded everything out. The paths between rows were sprayed with glyphosate

[@foreverfarmkansas]

Try basil and mint next year... Nice filler behind the flowers! I’m still learning too :)

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Sounds good!

[@farstrider79]

Watch out though, mint will fill in so thoroughly that nothing else can grow.

[@mitchjohnson4714]

I had the exact same problem with the orange cosmos! I thought they were ragweed! I only ended up with some because I like to let some weeds live and was surprised they turned out to be cosmos.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Yes, same! The leaves do look like ragweed

[@Peachy08]

Thank you for the info on the orange cosmos. I had the same issue but I thought they were marigolds! I left them and when they opened I knew it was a cosmos. You were the only one that verified this for me. Thanks!

[@mitchjohnson4714]

@@Peachy08 Don’t that you mention this, because I recently planted some seeds, including from a mix and some came up that I was wondering if they were cosmos, but they turned it to be marigolds.

[@marezeedo]

I appreciate your videos! Thankyou for helping us. I planted Cosmos in containers. I didn’t know to cut them back. They are now about 3-4 feet tall. However, the stem is very thick, I bet it’s about an inch thick, but no flowers. Lots of leaves but no flowers. Should I cut back now? What caused the stems to get so thick? Any help would be appreciated! I’m in zone 9B.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Sorry I don't know what would cause that. Have you had a soil test done? That might reveal some deficiency that could help you.

[@billwest9110]

@@WoodsTreeFarm Cut the center lead stem back about 6 inches. Side shoots are where the flowers are produced.

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

I just saw on a previous video that the wiggly Zinnias are actually almost spent so won’t last as long in a vase as the rigid ones. Maybe I got it backwards?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

the stems stiffen with maturity and continue to be stiff well after the blooms peak and flowers go to seed.

[@debrakavanaugh8052]

My first year I’m going to try cosmos. I’ve grown zinnias for over 25 years now , but many people in my fb zinnia group grow cosmos too. I’m wondering if they need to be staked as they grow taller? I’d really rather not if I don’t have to but your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

You either need to stake or net them or they'll take up more room than you're probably expecting. The plants can get real shrubby and branch out. I've had some fall over in heavy winds and rain, but most do just fine without staking. They also take longer to bloom than zinnias, so plan on seeding at least 2-3 weeks before your zinnias.

[@caseyspinks7781]

May I ask how you charge your U-Cut guests? By the vessel, by the stem....

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

admission plus a cup or bucket. I show the cups and buckets we use near the end of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGbRq6WomLqpgLM

[@shelley2865]

How many cosmos seeds would you sow in one of your rows?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

I'm not really sure . We just lightly sprinkled seed. We've figured out over a few years they grow and flower better when spaced out 6-12 inches. Bulk seeds area available such as this amzn.to/3I3EPsx so you can always apply the seed pretty liberally and thin the plants out later.

[@haydenanderson122]

Where are y’all located? Do you have a video on when you plant?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

we're in central Virginia, zone 7a. I don't think I've ever done a video planting zinnias or cosmos, but I have done a couple planting sunflowers.

[@billwest9110]

@@WoodsTreeFarm We grow organic zinnias, cosmos, calendula, and 50 other flowering plants for culinary or pollinator use. Alfalfa meal available from Tractor Supply or feed stores is a great soil dressing that increases yields.

[@mollycastles]

Is the "wiggle test" only for zinnias, or all cut flowers?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

just zinnias

[@mamabear9389]

Orange cosmos is the most hardy IMO.

[@billwest9110]

Going to look for that next year. Found some yellow columbine seeds in Nebraska. What a great color and hardy plant.

[@mollypitcher9380]

Thanks

[@dutch1999]

Where do you get your seeds from?

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

Harris seed and Amazon

[@LickinMahBallss]

Thanks! I like the wiggle test