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Crumble the soil from the root ball, careful not to damage the tap root. The soil should be worked down to at least 6 inches and as much as 10 inches if it’s a heavy, clayey soil. An ideal soil for hollyhocks has clay, sand and lots of compost, including rotted manure or leaf mold. Weed the soil, then amend it with compost if it needs it. The seedlings should be transplanted into another sunny spot, preferably beside a wall that makes a good backdrop for the plant’s height and showy flowers. The seedlings shouldn’t be transplanted until they have at least four leaves and not until the air temperature outside is at least 50 degrees F. They take a bit longer when they’re planted outdoors. The soil should be kept moist, and the seeds will come up after 10 days. The covering of soil should be light because hollyhock seeds require sunlight to germinate. The pots should be placed in a sunny spot in a room that’s at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Perennial hollyhock seeds can be planted outdoors in the summer, while annual seeds should be planted in indoor pots in February. However, this can be done according to both Garden Guides and Burpee. Hollyhock has a reputation for being temperamental, and many gardeners might be hesitant to transplant it.
#Planting hollyhock seedlings full#
The plant grows to between five and eight feet tall and is usually raised from seed sown in well-drained soil in full sun. Though it’s an annual or a short-lived perennial, a healthy hollyhock seeds so abundantly that a gardener can expect many years of bloom. It is worse on older plants and can be kept in check by replacing plants every couple of years.The hollyhock is a garden plant famous for its beautiful, vividly-colored, ruffly flowers. Rust is a leaf disease to which hollyhocks are especially prone. If the flower stalk is cut back immediately after finishing, plants may bloom again. The most important factor is good air circulation, so do not crowd plants or plant too close to structures, hedges, etc… Keep well watered and feed a few times during the growing season. Grow in rich, moist soil with good drainage and a neutral pH range of 6.0-7.5. Use peat or coir pots in an effort to minimize root disturbance.
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Sow seeds on the surface of the soil, and provide bright light.
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Ideal soil temperature for germination: 15-21☌ (60-70☏). An early start usually results in flowering the first year. Start hollyhocks 6-8 weeks before planting out after the last frost date. In mild winter areas, start seeds indoors in late February to early March, and transplant out in April or May.
#Planting hollyhock seedlings how to#
Continue reading below for tips on how to grow hollyhocks from seed. Planted later in spring, it will bloom in the second year as a traditional biennial. If started early enough indoors, it will flower the first year and can be treated as an annual. Technically, this species is a short lived perennial. Hollyhocks defy the simple definition of annual, biennial, and perennial depending on when, where, and how they are planted. This cottage garden classic originated in China, but was imported to English gardens around the 15th century.
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