08/09/2026
Direct sow or transplant your cosmos? 🌸
Cosmos are often said to prefer being sown directly where they will grow, but that doesn’t mean they can’t thrive when transplanted. SOWciety member Rebecka starts her first sowing in trays, followed by direct sowing later in the season, and just look at the beautiful results!
🌱 Direct sowing
Once the soil has warmed and the risk of frost has passed, sowing directly into the garden allows cosmos to grow without any root disturbance. It’s simple, but young seedlings can be more exposed to cold, weeds, slugs, snails and unpredictable spring weather.
🌱 Starting in trays
Sowing into trays or small pots gives seedlings a protected start and can be especially helpful in cooler parts of New Zealand, where it may be a little early to sow outdoors. It also gives you greater control over spacing when planting out.
The secret is not to leave cosmos in their pots for too long. Transplant them while they’re still young, handle their roots gently and harden them off gradually before planting outside after the risk of frost has passed.
Whichever method you choose, give your cosmos plenty of sunshine, don’t overfeed them and keep picking the flowers. They’ll reward you with armful after armful of beautiful blooms.
Will you be direct sowing or starting yours in trays this spring?
🌱 Sow ~ Nurture ~ Nourish 🌱
https://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/collections/cosmos
