How to Grow Hollyhocks From Seed
Hollyhocks are tall, beautiful flowers that can add pizzazz to any flower bed. These flowers come in many colors like pink, red, rose, white and even an almost black. Growing hollyhocks from seed is easy and can help make any American garden a special place. Read on to learn more.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Collect hollyhock seeds, either from a friendly neighbor who grows them or from a seed catalog. Zones 3 through 9 are the areas where these flowers grow well. These flowers are considered biennials, but can be perennials if the flowers are dead headed at the end of their growing season.
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2
Start growing the hollyhock seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season. These flowers typically have a blooming season from July to September in most parts of the country. Plant the seeds about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Hollyhocks usually don't bloom until their second year. By starting them early they may bloom the first year.
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3
Use good soil with nutrients to help the seeds grow. Be sure to use pots with some depth as hollyhocks do grow long roots. They don't need to be planted too deeply, just ¼ inch or so in depth. In fact, if deciding to sow the seeds directly into the garden, sprinkle the seeds on top of tilled soil and sprinkle more soil to cover the seeds ¼ inch.
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4
Transplant seedlings into the garden when all danger of frost has passed. Be sure the roots are covered with soil and that the flowers are 1 ½ to 2 feet apart. They grow well in full sun to partial shade and need to be watered regularly.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Use gloves when gardening as all soil contains microbes and bacteria.
