Hollyhock seeds are often planted directly in the garden, but you can get an early start by planting the seeds indoors. There are two times of year that hollyhock seeds may be planted in most gardening zones: Spring and fall.
I recommended planting in fall. If you plant seeds in the fall, your hollyhock plants will have a good chance of blossoming in the next year, and If you plant the seeds in the spring, you may have to wait a full year before you see blooms. and lovely flowers.
To Increase your chance of first-year bloom. Start hollyhock seeds indoors in the fall. Germinate the seeds in October or November and allow them to grow for a while and experience a winter. This may trick the flowers into blooming the following spring.
How to Start Hollyhock seeds Indoors
Spring and fall are the best times to start hollyhock from seed, and from sowing the seeds to transplanting the seedlings, the entire process takes about nine weeks.
. About nine weeks before the last predicted spring frost in your area. Sow the seed in seed-starting mix with a little of sand mixed in.
. Cover it lightly with soil, as hollyhock seed needs light in order to germinate.
For Successful Seed Germination, the seeds benefit from a warm, moist environment, and this can be accomplished by covering the pot with plastic wrap . The plastic will keep the potting soil moist, but you need to check the pot often until the seeds germinate.
. You can use a spray bottle filled with water to mist the potting soil lightly if necessary and never allow the potting soil to dry out .
. Germination usually occurs in two to three weeks.
. Place the pot on a sunny windowsill, under grow lights or in a cold frame, and keep the soil slightly moist throughout the germination process.
Caring for Hollyhock Seedlings
. As soon as the seedlings emerge, uncover the pot. You need to provide them plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or you can use a fluorescent plant lights. If you grow the seedlings with a fluorescent plant light, you have to raise the lights as the seedlings grow taller, and don't leave the lights on for 24 hours as most seedlings require a dark period to grow.
. Hollyhocks seedlings are ready to transplant to 3 or 4-inch pots when the seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall and have at least one set of true leaves. (the leaves that emerge after the tiny germination leaves).
. Remove each seedling carefully to avoid stress to the roots, and transplant into small pots filled with potting mix.
. Hollyhock Seedlings don't need too much fertilizer, you can feed after 3 or 4 weeks using an organic fertilizer for seedlings this will give your seedlings all the nutrients they need to grow.
Hardening Hollyhock Seedlings
Hollyhock seedlings should be allowed to mature indoors until you're sure all danger of frost has passed. Before transplanting them outside, it's so important to harden off the seedlings. About 7 days before planting your hollyhock seedlings outdoors, help acclimate them to temperatures, sunlight, and wind. This is the process of hardening off, or gradually acclimating you new plants to outdoor conditions. With proper hardening off, they’ll have an easier transition to the garden, and enjoy. There is nothing like hollyhock flowers at the height of their growth, and Their bright blooms.
Now that you know how to start hollyhock from seeds indoors, Just give it a try and grow it yourself and enjoy growing hollyhocks which have healthful benefits and uses.
Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends!
Happy Gardening!
>> Shop for Hollyhock Seeds <<
Some of the links to products on this site are affiliate links. These are products that i've used or recommend based from homesteading experience. I do make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) from these sales. aromatic-herbs-growing.blogspot.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.