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Re: Chocolate cosmos

Hi Nan:  In my experience Chocolate cosmos require patience and warmth
above all.  I've been growing them just north of Seattle (Z8) for about
5 years, but without spectacular results.  This year is the best so
far.  Last year (early summer?) I planted 3 from 4" pots in a 15" terra
cotta pot.  They were so-so, and I stuck the pot in the garage for the
winter.  I brought them out in May, and had about given up hope that
they would emerge till they finally poked up in late July.  You know
they have a tuberous root, and I have a feeling they resent being
disturbed, but I was poking around in there every week in my
impatience.  When they began to show top growth I gave them fish
emulsion every couple of weeks, and as warmth is hard to come by here
and the sun is now getting low I moved them to a sunnier spot around the
first of Sept.  Despite a horrendous hailstorm, hard rain and beastly
wind last week I now have one beautiful bloom and a few buds.(I recently
saw a bouquet of perhaps 2 dozen blooms in a magazine and nearly
fainted) Despite the weather the foliage is much sturdier and healthier
than last year, although the older plants remaining in the ground are
just showing a little foliage--no sign of buds.  So I think perhaps you
just need to encourage them and hope for next year, and probably pull
the mulch away at least until you get what little winter you do in balmy
San Diego. Probably early next summer they'll wake up, realize where
they are, and take off. Then you can start fertilizing and planning that
bouquet.  They really are late bloomers, but so lovely in front of gray
foliaged plants.  Good luck!
Pam
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