I am trying to gear myself up to pulling them out tomorrow to make room for the fall veggies. I have no more room at the moment for the fall veggies that I started from seed. They have germinated nicely and I 
need to get their permanent home ready to go which means out with the Cosmos. I keep telling myself that they are almost done anyway as they are starting to go to seed now. (That means I will be facing them taking over again next year *sigh*.)
I gave that bed a good watering today to make it easier to pull them out. I will collect some more seed from them before tossing them into the compost pile. I was thinking I will take one last BIG bouquet of them before I yank them all out.
My husband finds it silly that I am fretting over pulling all the Cosmos out. He sees the fall vegetables as being more practical since they feed the family. I know some will be back next year so I will remind myself of that as I pull out this year’s generation tomorrow.
The other day I started some more seeds for the fall garden. I started some more kale, some onions that I am going to try to overwinter, and an Asian green called Tatsoi (or spoon mustard). I love to eat Tatsoi raw in salads when it is young. It is really good. I also find it to be a rather pretty green. I am really looking forward to growing this.
One last look at my Cosmos:
I don’t blame you for being a little sad, your Cosmos really look fantastic this year. They’ll be back though, your hubby is right.
Hi PGL, I just hate pulling anything up (except for weeds that is!). I always feel so bad. Silly but that is just how I am. I’m horrible at thinning things out as well so my garden always ends up a little too full. -Cynthia
My cosmos keeps getting knocked over the wind and breaking. Soon it will be all gone with no help from me.
I love tatsoi too. Its a very pretty green.
Hi Daphne, it is a pretty green and I can’t wait to eat it!
Surprisingly my Cosmos has not been affected by our high winds. I think it might have to do with how jam packed they are planted. I never thinned them all that much so I think they are pretty much supporting themselves. -Cynthia
I wish cosmos would reseed in my garden! It never does, and I didn’t plant any this year. I really missed those colors in the mix. I can totally see why you’re reluctant to let them go, they are super gorgeous. Good luck with the veggie starts, I bow to you for having done them yourself (I just bought a few and might plant some arugula seeds this weekend).
- Karen
Hi Karen, they obviously like it here as this is the second year they have returned on their own! Arugula is super easy to start from seed right now if you decide to start some. Mine germinated in about 4 days! -Cynthia
Siyonara Cosmos! You must have felt a little proud that someone was photographing your garden….
Hi Fern! I did feel pretty proud and almost overwhelmed when my neighbor wanted to take some photos of my garden. He actually saw me the other day and mentioned wanting to take some more. I was very flattered to say the least! -Cynthia
I was just lamenting that I had not put any cosmos in this year and made a commitment to do it next year.I have the perfect place. I’m about to plant some large rudbeckia out front and I know myself. The yellow will be “too much” for my taste, so I told myself I would “balance it out” (a la Mexico, I suppose) with the pinks and lavenders and whites and magenta of the cosmos. I can see it now…
Yes, it’s tough to pull out a thriving plant. Thank it. Know it will (apparently) return and liven up your veggie patch. And let it go. Sigh.
Hi Kathryn-
It is so nice to see you visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
Rudbeckia with Cosmos sounds lovely! I planted my Cosmos from seed in this veggie bed 3 years ago to help attract beneficial insects and make the bed a little prettier. I never imagined they would take over the bed like they did this year! Next year I must vow to be tougher when it comes to thinning them out! -Cynthia
Hey Cynthia, before I forget. I need to get the html link for the Garden Ring again. When I moved my blog over I cut & pasted it into Wordpress but it didn’t take.
I tried containing Ringsurf themselves but no luck. Can you send me the code via email?
Hi PGL, I’ll get an email out to you concerning this as soon as I can!
-Cynthia
I know just how you feel. Those Cosmos are beautiful. Pick a huge bouquet and think of the good veggies you will soon be eating and just rip them out quick.
Hi Cindy, I am trying to remember the yummy veggies that are one their way to replace my Cosmos. Plus I keep telling myself that I am sure they will be back next year as they are dropping their seed EVERYWHERE again!
I think I really need to make a garden bed just for them. It sure would be pretty! -Cynthia
Heavens, I think I planted the Cosmos seeds this year and they never came up! Boy would I love to be near you to get some of those invading your yard! I guess Mother Nature knows better where she wants them, and sows them herself in your yard.
Brenda
Hi Brenda, I could have given you all the Cosmos you could have possibly wanted! So many came up this year. It is rather crazy actually as they look like one big monster plant! -Cynthia
I can understand why you’d feel badly about pulling those beautiful blooms out — I’d forgotten how pretty cosmos are…and I love their feathery foliage, too. I found this on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgyDeMXe-UM
Oh, my poor Cosmos! I hate having to pull them out! Thank you for sharing that YouTube video Nancy. At least I am fairly certain they will return next year just like they have for the past 2 years. This year though they really out did themselves. Very, very pretty. The last shot in the video makes me think of mine right now- reaching for the sky. -Cynthia
Oh my! it would be hard to pull them out…on the other hand they will look pretty in a vase! I was lamenting to someone that I couldn’t grow cosmos, then noticed two lovely pink blooms among the browning Black-Eyed Susans!
Gail
Hi Gail, I do not even grow these anymore as they pretty much grow themselves now! I guess they must like it there since they have done so well. They are such pretty, cheerful flowers. I planted a Black-Eyed Susan next to them in the spring and they swallowed it up! -Cynthia
I always hate the time of year when I have to pull out plants, especially those that might still be producing blooms. But once I get the first couple pulled the rest seem easier to do and before I know it the garden is cleared. The goldfinches have been coming in to the seed heads on the cosmos and having a feast.
Hi Crafty Gardener,
I love how the goldfinches will perch on the Cosmos for the seeds and I can see them doing this from a bedroom window. But I have no more room right at the moment for the fall veggies so the Cosmos must go. At least we still have our birdfeeder for the finches. -Cynthia
That is one of the reasons I hate to pull them up!
It’s okay to be a little sad over the Cosmos….they are such good looking flowers! Mine volunteered this year where I grew my tomatoes, so I just let some of them grow along with them. It helps with pollination and makes things much prettier in the garden….in my humble opinion.
Hi Connie,
I agree that they do help with pollination because they attracted bumblebees by the dozen everyday. That is just one of the reasons why I feel bad pulling them up. Not to mention how pretty they look. -Cynthia
These were also volunteers. I guess I let them volunteer a little too much!
The Cosmos are lovely but they last so long that you do start to get fed up with them. I have just posted about Cosmos on my GBBD post and how I might try something else next year, mind you if they self seed as much as yours do I may have to come up with something that will work with the Cosmos!!
Hi patientgardener-
I’ll be sure to stop by your blog to view your post on your Cosmos. -Cynthia
Hopefully your Cosmos will not self sow as enthusiastically as mine did this year. I just know I will be dealing with them again next year. I must vow to get to them before they look pretty! It is easier to pull them up then!