Mr Fothergill's RSPB Cosmos 'Polidor Mixed' Seeds

Cosmos sulphureus (Compositae)

Seeds selected by the RSPB to attract wildlife.
A blend of warm, citrus shades, this charming seed mixture produces plenty of semi-double and single blooms, which are appreciated by bees and butterflies through the summer. Polidor Mixed is a smashing choice for border displays and for cutting. The bushy plants also have attractive, deeply cut foliage.

Cosmos is a half-hardy annual, which flowers the same year as sowing. Originally from Mexico, it does best in a warm, sunny position on free-draining soils. Very fertile soils may promote foliage production at the expense of flowers.

Few half hardy annuals can match Cosmos (sometimes called Cosmea) when it comes to filling gaps in borders, where its ethereal, ferny foliage and large, elegant blooms are sure to turn heads. Its name comes from the Greek kosmos (ornament).

Height: 75cm(30in)
Plant Class: Half Hardy Annual (HHA).
Habit: Medium.

Sow indoors for surest results, February-April, 0.5cm (?") deep, in trays of compost. Water well and place in a warm position. A temperature of 15-20?C (60-68?F) is ideal. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Transplant seedlings, 5cm (2") apart, to other trays when large enough to handle (always hold by a leaf, never by the stem). Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out into well-drained, light soil, May-June, 30cm (1') apart, when frosts are over.
Or, sow outdoors for ease, April-May, where they are to flower, 1.5cm (?ö) deep, into finely-prepared, well-drained, light soil, which has already been watered. Thin seedlings to 30cm (1') apart. Water well until plants are established.
Flowers: June-October.

60 Seeds

We are a family run, independent Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant combined. We are proud to offer the very best gardening, home and outdoor living products alongside delicious, fresh, locally produced food and drink.

Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK in 2018 & 2021 you can rest assured that we offer excellent products, plants and customer service.

Learn more about us and our story on the 'About Us' page.

Collect your order in store or have it delivered to your front door!

Our aim is to dispatch the goods as quickly as possible using experienced mainstream couriers.

Your Questions Answered...

What are the delivery options and prices?

We offer both a Standard 3-5 working day delivery service and a faster 1-2 working day delivery service for a small additional charge.

Postable items such as packets of seeds, gift cards etc. will be delivered using Royal Mail and have a delivery charge of £2.95.

Smaller, lighter items have delivery charges range between £4.95 – £6.95.

Larger, heavier and fragile items have delivery charges range between £9.95 – £19.95

Pallet deliveries for items such as furniture start at £69.95 (see further information about kerbside pallet deliveries below).

An accurate delivery charge will be calculated on the checkout page, once you’ve added all the products you would like to purchase.

How do I track my delivery?

Once your order has been booked in you will receive an email from the courier with information.

How fast is delivery?

Orders are dispatched within one working day of it being placed. Our standard delivery time is between 3-5 working days and our express delivery time is 1-2 working days (excluding weekends & bank holidays).

Who will deliver my order?

We have a selection of different couriers we offer for delivery depending on the size and weight of the parcel. Your order will either be delivered by Royal Mail, Evri or Parcelforce. Furniture sets or large items will be delivered using a kerbside pallet delivery service.

What is a kerbside pallet delivery service?

Most of our furniture sets and some larger or heavy items such as compost will be delivered using wooden pallets. These pallets will be delivered using a heavy goods vehicle and will need plenty of room to deliver as well as needing someone to sign for the delivery.

Kerbside delivery means that pallets will be delivered to the nearest kerbside at the address specified. The driver will position their vehicle as close as possible to the delivery address and unload the palletised goods into a spot on the kerbside that is safe and keeps the pallet secure. This is to ensure the safety of the driver, the customer and the general public. The driver will not be able to wheel the delivery across any uneven surface such as grass, gravel or up or down steps and will not unload the items from the pallet or take the pallet away with them.

With a kerbside pallet delivery service, we are able to select a specific date for delivery which best suites you. Once an order has been placed, we will contact you to discuss your preferred delivery date.

If there are any possible access issues for a larger vehicle to your address please inform us in order for us to make alternative arrangements.

What do I do if my order has arrived damaged?

If you order arrives damaged from it’s journey in transit, please email an image showing the damage to the item along with your order number for us to rectify the issue. We must be notified of any damage within 24 hours of being delivered.

Do you deliver to Northern Ireland?

We do deliver to Northern Ireland, some larger or heavier items may have a surcharge. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship plants to Northern Ireland.

What is the warranty on an item I purchase?

Any goods sold by us will have the benefit of the manufacturer’s warranties, which will be for 12 months unless otherwise stated. All warranties are subject to the manufacturer’s terms and conditions. Any defective goods returned to us within the manufacturer’s warranty period will be repaired or replaced at the sole discretion of the manufacturer and will be subject to compliance with the terms of their warranty. All other warranties and guarantees are expressly excluded so far as the law permits.

Do any areas of the UK incur a delivery surcharge?

Delivery addresses in the following areas may require additional delivery charge. If additional delivery charge is required we will contact you immediately. The following areas which may require additional shipping charge can be found below:

Channel Islands
Northern Ireland
Scottish Highlands
Scottish Islands
Isle of Man
Isle of Wight
Scilly Isles
Any further questions? If you need to reach us, use the enquiry form on the contact us page, call us on 01497 847055 or email us at shoponline@oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

How do I return an item?

If a purchase is no longer required you are able to return the goods within 28 days of delivery for a full refund in accordance with our refunds policy set out in Clause 10 of our Terms & Conditions. We will refund any money received from you using the same method originally used by you to pay for your purchase. Please make sure that you include the sales order or invoice with your return.

When returning items to us, please ensure that any and all original packaging, instructions, tags etc are included as supplied to you. We recommend using a recorded/insured service to return your order. The Old Railway Garden Centre cannot be held responsible for returned items lost or damaged in transit to us.