How to Grow Majorette Hollyhock From Seed

Hollyhocks are typically easy to grow.

Majorette hollyhock, a variety of Alcea rosea, comes in various pastel colors, typically with a darker shade of the same color in the center. The flower produces a double bloom, giving it a soft, puffy look. This flower is easy to grow from seed and in many climates will reseed itself if given the chance. The Majorette is a dwarf variety that grows to about 30 inches tall. Hollyhocks are hardy and are very drought-resistant.

Things You'll Need

• Seeds
• Sandy potting soil
• Planting tray
• Aged compost
• Shovel or trowel

Instructions

Starting Indoors

1. Start the seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season. The seeds should be placed in loose, sandy soil and kept in a greenhouse or other reasonably warm location until they germinate. Don’t bury the seeds deeply, but just barely cover them with a thin layer of the same soil. Keep them slightly damp, but not overly wet.

2. Transplant seedlings into individual pots when they have begun to develop leaves. Keep them indoors in a sunny location, but harden them off by exposing them to the outdoors daily. Start with a short period of time and gradually increase it until the plants are used to the climate and can live outside full time.

3. Dig a shallow hole in any sunny area and place one of the Majorette hollyhock seedlings in it, including the potting mixture it is growing in. Fill in the soil around the plant and pat it down gently. Plant additional plants in the same way, leaving at least 18 inches between the seedlings.

Starting Outdoors

1. Prepare the planting area in advance by working aged manure or compost into the soil. Choose a location that gets plenty of sun -- at least six hours per day.

2. Scatter the seeds on the surface of the planting area about a week prior to the final frost of the season. You can scatter them randomly for a natural look, or plant them in organized rows. Because of their height Majorette hollyhocks make a good background plant for other, shorter flowers and plants.

3. Cover the seeds with a very light layer of soil from the seedbed. They need enough to protect them, but a layer about 1 centimeter thick is plenty. They will sprout in about 10 to 14 days.

Tips & Warnings

• Majorette hollyhocks are biennials, so they won’t produce flowers the first year you grow them if you plant them directly outdoors. If you start them indoors in February you will normally get flowers in late July or early August.

• If you plant your hollyhocks where they are exposed to the wind you may need to support them with individual stakes to prevent the stems from breaking.

References

• Garden Grower: Hollyhock – Alcea Rosea
• New Mexico State University Master Gardener Newsletter: Hollyhocks