How to Grow Cosmos Plants Easily (Production technology)

 How to grow cosmos? Morphology and production technology of cosmos are given below.

• English name: Cosmos
• Scientific name: Cosmos bipinnatus
• Family: Compositae
• Origin: Mexico

Description:

• Habit: Cosmos is a delightful Annual mainly grows in the rainy season
• Leaf: Compound and thin
• Size of bract: 8 – 10 cm
• Height: 60 – 120 cm

Color and variety:

According to the size, flowers are 2 types –

• Large size – ZAGGLER (red), Purity (white), ALPINE BEAUTY (pink), GLORIOUS (pure rose color)
• Small size – Raffle fair (orange), Mandarin

According to season, cosmos are 2 types –

• Winter seasonal flower
• Summer seasonal flower

Generally, winter seasonal flowers are various in color and summer seasonal flowers are yellow in color.

How to grow cosmos plants?

Climate: Grow in tropical and subtropical areas but grows best in the temperate region

Soil: It can grow in any soil but grows well in a loamy soil. The organic matter that reaches soil is the best for cultivation. It needs soil pH 5.5 – 7.5

Means of preparation: By seed

Land preparation:

Bed size: 3 – 10 m

Planting method: Direct

Planting time: October – November (In winter), February – March ( In summer)

Seed rate: 5 – 8 gm per bed.

Fertilizer dozes:

• Cow dung: 2 – 3 kg
• TSP: 25 gm
• Urea: 50 gm
• MP: 25 gm

Cowdung/manure and TSP should be applied at the time of land preparation. MP and Urea should be applied after one month of planting.

Intercultural operation:

• Irrigation
• Weeding (15 days after)
• Thinning

Pest and disease:

• Pest: Aphid, Caterpillar
• Disease: Powdery mildew
• Management / Control: Dithanem – 45
• Pesticide: Basudin and Diana for Caterpillar, Malathion and maladan for Aphid.

Uses: Used as cut and bedding flower.