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The best time (and the easiest time) to sow hollyhock seed is in autumn. Simply sprinkle the seed onto soil that’s been amended with lots of rich compost and cover it very, very lightly with soil. (As noted above, hollyhock seeds need light in order to germinate.) In spring when the soil warms, the seed will sprout.
Can I plant hollyhock seeds in October?
Alternatively, sow seeds directly in the ground where you want them to grow in May/June. Hollyhock seed can also be sown in autumn and the young plants over-wintered in a cold frame or cold greenhouse, to flower the next year.
How late can you plant hollyhock seeds?
You can plant hollyhocks from seed now, in the late summer, and you may get blooms next summer. Or wait until late winter or early spring and start transplants indoors. Or, you can plant them outside from seed later next spring. If you wait to plant until next year, you’ll most likely have to wait a year for blooms.
Should I soak hollyhock seeds before planting?
Try soaking the seeds overnight before you plant them. This loosens the outer layer of the seed and allows for better germination. When you plant the seed do not cover it with soil. It needs light to germinate so it is better to put the seed on the ground or growing medium and then press it lightly into the soil.
When should I plant hollyhock seeds?
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. In frost-free areas, sow in late winter indoors to flower the same year. In a warm well-lighted area sow seeds in seed starting formula and barely cover as light aids germination. Keep the soil moist at 70-75 degrees F.
Are hollyhocks easy to grow from seed?
Hollyhocks are best, and easiest, grown from seed and they will readily self-seed if flower stalks are left in place.
How do you get hollyhocks to bloom in the first year?
To force biennial hollyhocks to flower the first year, treat them with gibberellic acid, a flower inducer that takes the place of a cold period. Planting them in fall may also induce hollyhocks to bloom the first year.
Where is the best place to plant hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks do best in a south- or west-facing position in moist but well-drained soil. Chalky, sandy or loamy soils are ideal. Plant them at the back of a border as they can reach heights of 2m or more. Hollyhocks aren’t suitable for growing in pots.
When can I plant hollyhocks outside?
when to plant hollyhocks The best time to sow hollyhock seeds undercover is April and May. You can sow the seeds directly outdoors in May and June. If you have bought hollyhocks as plants in pots or raised them from seed, they can be planted out May to July. They flower the following year after planting.
Can hollyhocks be grown in pots?
Hollyhocks require a large container, such as whisky barrel to allow room for their roots to grow. Although dwarf varieties have smaller roots, the more room you give them the happier they will be.
Do hollyhocks need light to germinate?
Be sure to leave the seeds on the surface of the soil, or just sprinkle them very lightly with soil or compost. Hollyhock seeds need light in order to germinate, so if you plant them too deeply, they won’t sprout.
Can you winter sow hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks are a perfect candidate for Winter Sowing, if you want to start a lot of seeds easily then give it a try! The seeds like it warm to get started so at 70-75 degrees they will germinate in 14 to 28 days.
Do hollyhocks come up every year?
Hollyhock plants readily reseed themselves, so once you have a nice batch, you have a lifetime supply. Hollyhocks begin as a low rosette of floppy, slightly fuzzy leaves. The growth is just vegetative in the first year but by the second year the stem begins to form and flowers appear near the beginning of summer.
Do hollyhocks like sun or shade?
Hollyhocks are not fussy and survive in many spots but do best in soil that has been amended with compost. They do not like dry soil. With adequate moisture and good drainage, hollyhocks can thrive in full sun or partial shade. Try them in a few different spots in your yard and see where they are happiest.
Are hollyhocks hard to grow?
A good background companion for shorter plants. Hollyhock is very easy to grow, preferring a warm, sunny location sheltered from the wind. Will tolerate moist conditions. Bloom midsummer-early fall.
Why are my hollyhocks falling over?
When your hollyhock is too tall, it can flop over or look out of scale with the rest of the garden. Cutting the flower stems down by half when they are 18 inches tall and again before they bloom — when tall varieties are 3 feet tall — produces stockier flower stems.
How tall do hollyhocks get the first year?
Alcea rosea hybrids The results have been extraordinary – the introduction of the first true perennial, single hollyhock series. Bloom is from late spring through early fall. Plants will flower the first year when started early and grow to up to 5-6 ft. tall and 5 ft.
Do hollyhocks need a lot of water?
Water daily for the first few weeks after planting, and regularly after that, keeping the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Once hollyhocks grow to maturity, they become relatively drought-tolerant, so you can then decrease your watering frequency to two to three times per week for the rest of the growing season.
