Hello everyone,
I am moving to a new house and have a bag full of Hollyhock seeds. Now.........I need to learn....
When should I plant them?
Start indoors or outside?
full or half sun?
any and all comments appreciated...
Thanks,
Deanna

Hi - it's probably a little soon in your part of the country to start them outdoors but you can sure start them inside and transplant them later. Generally they like full but not baking sun and will tolerate a little shade. Good luck. Judy

I just started my Hollyhocks inside yesterday for transplanting outside mid March here. Just wait till the danger of frost is past to plant outside. I have found in the past that since they grow so big the usual "growing kit" type trays aren't big enough for them so I start mine in peat pots. Just be sure they get enough sun and stay warm and they'll be fine. Outside mine get full sun and lots of water. I plant mine near a fence and use fishing line to tie them to the fence for support when they get mature. Good Luck, Michelle

Hope I'm not too late with this, but I've always planted mine outside in late summer -- August or so. They grow enough to get a good start, and then bloom the next summer. If you plant them inside in the spring, will they bloom this year?

This is to Nora Z5
some varietys will bloom same year planted , you can get the seeds at a walmart, i dont have much of a growing season here, but i got some that tried before they got nipped.
You can plant hollyhocks anytime of the year,i plant mine in the fall and the sprout in the spring time when they are ready too. ive also planted mine in the spring too
they seem to grow whenever
Hope this helps

JIM

I planted single hollyhocks biemmials in a 6 pack a whloe flat of "Ficifolia" and Charter's White"It says they are single flowers, I hope so!Will they bloom this year? I live near Pasadena,CA thanks

My hollyhocks suddenly got splochy yellowish leaves, which look very unhealthy. Is this a fungus or lack of fertilizing or what? It hasn't affected the blooms, but the leaves are not at all attractive. Any ideaa about what is wrong?

Cammie:

I don't know anything about the Ficifolia's but double check the others. Is it Charter's or Chater's?

If it's Chaters, they're full doubles. I'm guessing that you're a Zone 9, like me, so most likely they will bloom this year. In our climates and if seeded early enough, most Hollyhocks will flower the first year. However, there are some that are true biennials and no matter how early you seed them they won't flower until the following season.

Jenra

Hollyhocks will bloom the first year if planted by starts. Most seed varieties will wait for second year. Spots on leaves is usually rust. ( a fungus) and can be treated with a fungicide. (copper sulfate) Nice talking with you! Dot

Hi,
I live in zone 9 and planted my hollyhocks 2 years ago from a seed mat bought at walmart. I cut it in several pieces and placed the pat pieces along a fence line. I believe it was in March or April. This year they are at least 10 to 12 feet tall.

If anyone is still reading this - I planted my hollyhocks from seed last year. They are already up about 2 1/2', and no doubt they will bloom this season. My question is, since they are bi-annuals - will they die at the end of this season, or will they just come up again next Spring and not bloom until 2001??? Thanks! Kathy in Kansas

kathy- the soon-to-bloom biennials will die at the conclusion of this years growth.. the seeds they set this summer can be re-planted immediately to produce starts for winter dormancy and bloom next year.

-dicken.

I seem to have a mix from 6 seeds I planted two years ago. Last year, a beautiful purple single bloomed at max ht of 4'. THIS year, there are full whites, single pinks, full purple, etc and the crazy things are flirting with the neighbors sunflowers! I'm not even sure I ever saw a hollyhock before but these have been the best seed investment I've made. Temps are in mid 90's, they're planted in morning sun and only receive soaker watering 2ce weekly. Hubby refers to them as the cauliflower plant and is quite taken with them...Keep in mind, I grow roses but with his engineer mind-set, he only noticed one.

Dicken - Thanks for your wisdom...but, how sad! Those huge green leaves are making SUCH a pretty backdrop for my other flowers and statuary in my Victorian Garden...S-I-G-H! I'll do as you say though, and replant the seeds as soon as the blooms get to that point. Guess I will need to plant seeds next Fall too, so that I will have some Hollyhocks in bloom for the next 2 years, huh? Well, better get off now, I see lightning out the windows in the distance. We have really been having a monsoon season here! Kathy in (tropical!!) Kansas

Kathy,
In the fall, I take all the seeds and spread them along my fence line - lightly cover with soil and in the spring they are all back!! I have ALWAYS had them bloom the first year - not sure why. Hollyhocks are one of my favorite old flowers. Reminds me of days gone by.
-Helen

I'd like to know how to make the old fashioned "Hollyhock Dolls". Can you tell me how? Thanks

Does anyone remember how to make hollyhock dolls?

When I was a little girl my grandmother and I made hollyhock dolls all of the time. The way that we made them was to take two hollyhock blooms. One fully open and one bud(for the hat. Take the full bloom and attach it to the bud with a 1/2 toothpick inserted through the ends.(Green parts together) We then used two toothpicks in the open bud for the legs. At the top of the open bud we stuck in 1/2 toothpicks for arms. A simple thing but it made a memory that will last a lifetime. Any time anyone speaks of their grandmothers garden this is what I think of. :) Rhonda

Okay, now I'm drooling over everybody elses beautiful Hollyhocks. I planted hollyhocks from plants last spring. They flowered and died. I replanted the seeds thinking I would have flowers this year and I have about a dozen pitiful little things that are about twelve inches tall. No blooms. My mother says do not feed them and others say they love manure. I'm obviously doing something wrong. I have lots of seeds I have traded and I hate to waste them. What's the secret? Sun, shade? Fertilize or no?

I can not give any help on Hollyhocks,I thought I'd let you know that a friend gave me three plants 3 years ago,they were two years old before they bloomed,they were me first so I did not know anything about them,I happen to plant them on the East side of the house,one is almost as tall as the house,it has deep wine colored blooms the other one has lite pink,almost white,the last one has not bloomed yet,what's wrong with it?I only put Miracle Grow around them/water them every day,there is enough seeds on the two that's blooming to plant at least an acre/I think.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dropseat Jumpsuits

I'm wondering when hollyhock seeds can be harvested. Do i have to wait for stalks and seed pods to fully dry? Thanks for your help!

I planted hollyhocks last summer. One grew and bloomed and came up again this year and bloomed again. Another plant came up on its own this year and is blooming. The last few days they are very wilted looking and the leaves are yellowing. Some have big holes in them like they are being eaten but I can find no bugs on them. The temps have been in the lower 100's so I've been watering them often. Do they need furtilizer? Or is it just the heat? Woul be grateful for any help I can get. Thanks Linda of Kansas City.

I have some seeds someone gave me and want to begin those indoors now (March in Pennsylvania). Anything special I should know?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Nancy