Cosmos are indispensable garden annuals, and with so many wonderful new varieties on offer, it is increasingly difficult to choose amongst them. Intense colour, a dainty flower shape and a manageable habit certainly makes ‘Fandango’ a very worthy selection.
Rich, purple-red flowers with a tuft of smaller petals in the centre, stand out beautifully against the brilliant golden boss. Cosmos bipinnatus 'Fandango' is a semi-dwarf variety that reaches only a couple of feet high, making it more manageable than taller types and well suited to the front or middle of borders and container growing. A cinch to grow, flowers for ages and is excellent for cutting. Fleuroselect award-winning variety. Height: 60 cm (24in). Spread: 50 cm (20in).
Sowing Information
Sow Cosmos seed from March to May at a depth of 3mm (⅛") 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.
When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7cm (3") potsand grow them on in cooler conditions until large enough to plant outdoors. When Cosmos plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors in full sun in any moist, well drained soil at a distance of 45cm (18") apart. Pinch out the growing tip of each stem when transplanting to encourage stems to branch and produce more Cosmos flowers.
