Hollyhocks will reseed themselves for subsequent growing years. You can also harvest seeds from plants in the fall. Some hollyhock varieties will generally grow a bit shorter or taller, so consider your space needs and height preferences as well.
If you live in a warmer climate, you may be able to plant the seeds outdoors in the fall and achieve the same results. In the U. S. , hollyhocks can manage in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 (see http://planthardiness. ars. usda. gov/PHZMWeb/). In cooler zones (e. g. , 3), you’ll definitely want to start indoors — either the previous fall or early in the spring. In warmer zones (e. g. , 8), you can sow seeds outdoors in the fall or spring.
Any small plant container will do, but plastic “peat pots” filled with perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss are ideal for this. Place the trays near a window where they’ll receive ample sunlight. Water the soil as needed to keep it moist. Hollyhock seeds usually germinate in 1 to 2 weeks.
Keep the pots in a sunny spot indoors, and water them regularly.
Alternatively, you can sow the hollyhock seeds directly in the ground at this time (0. 25 to 0. 5 in (0. 64 to 1. 27 cm) deep) if you did not start the plants indoors. Test the ground temperature with a soil thermometer by sticking it roughly 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) into the ground (according to its instructions), or simply estimate the soil temperature according to a growing guide for your local area. [6] X Research source
Hollyhocks can tolerate partial shade as long as they get at least 6 hours of sun daily, but the flowers may be smaller and the colors not as vibrant.
Hollyhocks are fairly tolerant in regards to soil pH, and can thrive in conditions ranging from 6. 0 to 8. 0. But you still may want to test your soil and amend its pH if necessary. [8] X Research source
If you’re direct sowing seeds into the soil, plant the seeds 3 to 6 in (7. 6 to 15. 2 cm) apart and 0. 25 to 0. 5 in (0. 64 to 1. 27 cm) deep, and thin the seedlings to the larger spacing of your choice.
You can make organic mulch out of shredded leaves and yard trimmings, or buy it at any garden center. Spread the mulch evenly around the base of the plant — don’t pile it up against the stalk.
If you insist on watering on a regular schedule, water them daily for the first few weeks, then roughly twice per week for the rest of the growing season. This is all dependent on rainfall, soil conditions, and temperature, though.
Remember that hollyhocks often don’t flower at all during the first year, and flower fertilizers will not change this. Just be patient for next year!
Hollyhocks look great tied to trellises or fences!
As when the plants are first growing, water them at the base instead of top-down, and try to limit splashing up on the leaves. Splashed water can spread fungal leaf diseases, to which hollyhocks are particularly susceptible.
Spray the plants with sulfur- or copper-based fungicide sprays, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for use, if you see signs of discoloration or malformation of leaves or buds. Fungal diseases can quickly spread over an entire hollyhock plant or from plant to plant, so take action as soon as you spot trouble.
As an alternative, mix 2 teaspoons (9. 9 ml) of dish soap and 2 tsp (5. 2 g) of cayenne pepper with 1 US pint (470 mL) of water and spray it on the leaves.
If your plant has shown any signs of a fungal disease, don’t let the seeds fall and propagate. The fungus can spread to the soil and any new hollyhocks.
Plant the seeds in the same area of the garden if your hollyhocks did well in that spot, or just let them fall off the plant to the ground. Fall-planted seeds will winter over and germinate in the spring. Sow the seeds immediately in seed trays for indoor growing, if you want to start another cycle of indoor hollyhocks in hopes of getting blooms during their first year outdoors. You could also store the seeds in the refrigerator for outdoor planting (with or without starting them indoors) next spring.
Cutting down the plants for winter is helpful even in warmer climates, and covering them may help keep bugs away. Some growers prefer to leave several inches of the plant intact and cover the stump with coal ash. The ash keeps moisture away from the stem and discourages snails and slugs.
