Sowing hollyhocks successfully


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Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are an indispensable part of the natural garden. The up to two meter high flower stems have always been the eye-catcher in every cottage garden. Impressively they tower over the other plants in their environment and welcome visitors with their bright colors from afar.

Hollyhocks are best used if they are not planted together in rows and groups. A picturesque background they form for plant combinations in perennial beds. To ensure that the two-year-old plants bloom in the next season, you can simply sow the seeds directly into the bed in late summer.

Sowing hollyhocks Preparing soil

Sowing hollyhocks

Loosen the soil at the planting sites with a hand cultivator (left) and lift a shallow depression with the hand-shovel (right)

The soil must be well drained for hollyhock seeding. As hollyhocks form tap roots, they should be able to penetrate the soil as easily as possible. Weed the weeds and loosen the soil so that it becomes fine crumbly. On heavy or sandy soils, the seeds will germinate better if you mix the top soil layer with some seed soil.

Sowing hollyhocks

Cover cane seeds with soil

With your hand, place two to three seeds at a distance of about five centimeters in each hollow (left), cover it with earth thinly and press it with the hand-shovel (right)

So that the seed is well embedded in the soil and the roots immediately find support, the earth is pressed down with the hand-shovel. If later all the seeds rise, leave only the strongest young plant and weät the rest.

Mark sowing sites

Cast sticks seeds

Use bars to mark the places where you have sown your hollyhocks (left) and water thoroughly (right)

Hollyhocks appear in groups of at least three plants. Therefore, sow in several places and leave about 40 centimeters each. Then you do not have to separate the plants later. When casting, you should use care so that the seeds are not washed away. If the seeds are kept well moist, they usually germinate after about two weeks in warm weather.

Leaf rosette of hollyhocks

As large leaf rosettes, the hollyhocks sown directly into the bed last year start the season. They will show their tall flower stems in summer

Hollyhocks sow themselves

Once hollyhocks have been planted, they often keep themselves in the garden for years through self-sowing. However, the plants do not flower until the second year. Although they are among the perennials, Hollyhocks are usually drawn only two years old. More summer they bloom, when the flowered shoot is cut off just above the ground. However, older plants are no longer blooming and are more susceptible to mallow rust.

Expert Tips: How it works with the two-year-old

Ulrike Bosch

Ulrike Bosch is co-owner of Allgäustauden, an organic perennial nursery in Leutkirch / Allgäu with over 1,200 different plant species and varieties

How do I know that the seeds of the hollyhocks are ripe?
A sure sign is dry capsules, which can already be opened or pressed easily. The individual seeds are brown in color and can easily be released.
When do I best sow my self-collected seed?
Different times are suitable for this. Sown immediately after collection, ie in August or September, the hollyhocks form a strong rosette next year and in the following the flower. Depending on the region, weather, seed and some other factors, the seeds may germinate partially in the autumn and bloom in the next year. Alternatively, you can take your time until the late spring or early summer and sow directly into the prepared bed. If it is preferred to grow in seed pods, do not wait too long with singling and later planting, as hollyhocks like to root deeply and they can become too tight in the flat vessels.
How is the seed stored?
The seeds should be allowed to dry for a few days after harvesting so that the residual moisture can escape from the grains. Then you can store them in a cool, dry and possibly dark place.

Collect seeds

Mature seeds are easily triggered

Is there something to keep in mind when sowing?
Because hollyhocks are dark germs, you should cover the seeds with soil about twice the seed thickness. The best place to choose is a sunny patch of well-drained soil. To densely sown or planted stocks one thins out, as long as the plants are still small. Then strong specimens develop. The leaves also dry better and are less prone to the mallow rust.
Another tip in the end?
Two-year-olds usually die after semen maturity. If you reduce the plants immediately after they have withered, this often leads to a renewal of the leaf rosette and another flower in the following year.I always cut back some of the hollyhocks and let the others stand for self-sowing or seed harvesting.

Sowing hollyhocks successfully

FAQ - 💬

❓ Can I put hollyhock seeds straight into the ground?

👉 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.Em cache

❓ Should hollyhock seeds be soaked 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.

❓ Why are hollyhocks so hard to grow?

👉 Hollyhocks are easy to grow, but they are not without their problems. When growing hollyhock flowers, you need to keep an eye out for rust. Rust will typically attack the lower leaves but it may spread to upper leaves.Em cache

❓ When should hollyhock seeds be sown?

👉 You can scatter the seeds in the spring all the way through the summer, about 2 months before the first fall frost. Don't cover them with soil—you want sunlight to reach the seeds and encourage germination. If you want to start seeds indoors before spring, begin growing them about 6 to 8 weeks before the final frost.

❓ Do hollyhock seeds need dark to germinate?

👉 Hollyhock seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here. Hollyhocks may benefit from a 12 hour soak in warm water, but it is not needed. Direct sow outdoors onto the surface of the soil and compress firmly, but do not cover.

❓ Do hollyhock seeds need cold stratification?

👉 Hollyhocks germinate best after a period of cold stratification, which is why they're best planted in fall or in very early spring, when the soil is still quite cool. They need temperatures around 59 to 68°F in order for the seeds to germinate.

❓ Can you grow hollyhocks from seed?

👉 Hollyhocks are relatively easy to grow yourself from seed and, in many UK gardens in a suitable spot, will self-seed readily. To grow hollyhocks from seed, you can either sow seeds indoors between April and May or sow outside directly where they are to grow in May or June.

❓ How do you care for a hollyhock?

👉 Hollyhocks need very little care. Stake flowering plants and water in dry weather. After flowering. cut the flower spike off once the seeds have dispersed. Discover the three Golden Rules of growing hollyhocks, in this video featuring hollyhock expert, Mary Baker: Unknown catalog request error. Hollyhocks can be susceptible to hollyhock rust.

❓ Can you transfer hollyhocks?

👉 Don't transfer them directly, though – they need a short spell of TLC. So dig up self-sown seedlings and pot them into a 9cm (3.5in) pot. Once the roots have filled it, plant them in the garden. Hollyhocks are fully hardy and don’t need to be protected over winter. In early spring, sow hollyhock seeds undercover.

❓ Do hollyhocks flower the first year?

👉 And, if you start your hollyhocks indoors or live in an area with a long growing season, you might get flowers the first year. In any case, site selection, soil preparation, water management, and plant and seed care all help determine the health of your hollyhocks. Purchase seeds in your choice of variety and color.

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