Flower Gardens

» Cottage_Garden - How to Plant Hollyhock Seeds

By email: I was given the Hollihocks seeds and LOVE them, but can not find out how deep to plant then, where to plant them and what kind of care do they need.? Please Help.!!!! K.S. from Sevierville Tennessee. Thank you

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock)

Hollyhocks are biennials which means they grow for a summer, overwinter, then finally bloom the second year. Sometimes an individual plant will live another year but often they die out soon after blooming.

In nature, hollyhocks set seed in mid to late summer and it ripens and falls to the ground. It may germinate the same summer, or it may germinate the following spring once the soil warms up. This tells you the seeds will germinate quickly in warm soil.

Hollyhocks can be started indoors in the spring about about a month before the last frost (soil temperature should be about 75 degrees, barely cover with a thin layer of vermiculite, germination will be fast), then transplanted to the garden while still very small; or the seeds can be planted directly in the garden where they are to grow; or they can be planted in a nursery bed outside and transplanted to their permanent location later.

Late August or early September would have been okay for planting outside, but I think it is probably too late now unless you have at least two months or more until your first expected frost. Since it almost October, I would suggest waiting to plant until spring.

Since this is a biennial and won't bloom until the second year anyway, there is not much point to rushing things by starting the seeds indoors. I would plant them in the garden or a nursery bed next spring. (You can transplant the seedlings to where you want them while they are still quite small, just a few inches tall.)

Prepare and work the soil as you would for any seedbed, keeping in mind hollyhocks do well with a rich soil. Plant the seed shallow -- about a quarter to a half inch deep and cover with fine soil, compost, or vermiculite; keep the soil evenly moist, and hope for the best. Plant close to your last expected frost date or maybe a week ahead of it. The seeds should germinate in about two weeks. You can plant the seeds four to six inches apart and then thin or transplant the seedlings to allow about 12 to 18 inches or so between plants.

If you have mixed colors seed, save some of the weaker seedlings as they may be the more unusual colors.

In the meantime, store the seed in a cool, dry, dark place to preserve freshness.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - saving Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock)

In response to Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock) posted by Cottage_Garden:

Here are more detailed directions on how to store seeds until you are ready to plant them.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Robert Dailey - saving Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock)

In response to saving Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock) posted by Cottage_Garden:

Barbara,
Hollyhocks are wonderful plants. Thanks for the information. They grow all over northern New Mexico (escapees from gardens). It's common to see them growing from cracks in the sidewalks, along the sides of roads, etc.

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» Cottage_Garden - self seeding Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock)

In response to saving Alcea rosea seeds (Hollyhock) posted by bobcajun:

Yes Bob, hollihocks do often reseed if left without dead heading. I have seen them in all kinds of odd places, too.

Some people think they are perennial but I suspect that is because they reseed and grow in an ever-renewing or seemingly perpetual patch.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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