Hollyhocks are decorative, bee-friendly, hardy and easy to care for. They don't need more than a sunny spot. You can prefer hollyhocks on the windowsill. The effort is rewarded with magical flowers.

In a nutshell

  • Hollyhocks (Alcea) belong to the mallow family (Malvaceae)
  • Plants are biennial
  • Propagation is by seeds
  • Hollyhocks prefer on the windowsill or in the greenhouse possible
  • Flowering in the second year after sowing

hollyhocks

Like hibiscus, marshmallow and mallow, hollyhocks belong to the mallow family. The long-stemmed flowers are available in almost every imaginable colour, from white to pink, red to almost black flowers, everything is included. The care is uncomplicated.

Prefer hollyhocks

Preparing is particularly suitable for vegetables and flowers that are sensitive to cold, such as hollyhocks. These may only be planted outdoors after the Ice Saints. If you prefer the plants in warm rooms, you give them a growth advantage. Another effect is that it quickly becomes apparent which seeds will produce healthy, vigorous plants. If you prefer hollyhocks, you can choose the strongest specimens.

The substrate

Growing hollyhocks succeeds with commercially available potting soil. This contains few nutrients. This will prevent it from growing too quickly. The slow growth leads to stable roots and well developed plants.

Point of time

You can sow hollyhock seeds from February to March.

Greenhouse, seed trays or pots

Anyone who can use a greenhouse to grow the hollyhocks has a great chance of attractive plants. Alternatively, you can use seed trays or pots that you place in a warm place in your home.

Tip: When planting different varieties of hollyhocks, remember to label them.

sowing

Manual:

  1. fill potting soil in a seed tray or single pots.
  2. Spray the surface with water.
  3. Using a skewer, skewer about an inch deep Furrows about eight centimeters apart into the earth.
  4. Sow the mallow seeds With a centimeter or two apart into the ruts.
  5. If using pots, dig small holes and place three to four seeds in them.
  6. give one 0.5 centimeter thick layer of potting soil on the surface.
  7. Press the surface firmly and spray them with water.
  8. Drag cling film about the seed trays and pots.
  9. Put these on one warm location on the windowsill.
  10. At a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius the seed will sprout in a few days.
  11. pour the seed Every day. It must be continuously moist.

Notice: If you use a greenhouse to grow your hollyhocks, ensure regular ventilation.

pricking

After ten to fourteen days, small plants become visible. If after about five weeks at least two true leaves can be seen in addition to the two cotyledons, the time for pricking out has been reached.

Manual:

  1. Fill in one Mixture of potting soil and potting soil in plastic pots about eight centimeters in diameter.
  2. Dig in with a spoon small hole in the ground.
  3. Prick with one Pricking wood next to a strong seedling one.
  4. Pry the seedling carefully out.
  5. Using a small spoon, place it in the prepared flower pot.
  6. pour the plant.
  7. Place the transplanted plants in the windowsill and water them regularly.

plant out

At the end of May, when no more night frosts are to be expected, you can gradually get the hollyhocks used outdoors. Place the pots outdoors during the day, preferably in a sunny, warm spot. Plant them in the bed after the ice saints.

heyday

If you prefer hollyhocks from seed yourself, they will only produce flowers in the second season. The plants offered in specialist shops usually already have buds and flower in the first year. Hollyhocks are biennial. After flowering, they form seeds and then die. You can avoid this with a timely cut. Hollyhocks that are cut back immediately after flowering will not set seed and will flower again the following year.

maintenance

If you find a sunny place in the garden for your hollyhocks, water them regularly and cut them back in good time, you can enjoy the flowers for many years. We recommend fertilizing the plants monthly during the growing season with a guano fertilizer. This contains all the important nutrients and stimulates flowering.

Diseases

Hollyhocks are often attacked by rust fungi. Mallow rust becomes visible through rust-brown pustules. The plants become unsightly due to the infestation. We recommend removing diseased plant parts and disposing of them in the residual waste.

frequently asked Questions

How long can hollyhock seeds be used?

Seeds do not last indefinitely. A germination test is recommended to check germination. To do this, some hollyhock seeds are placed on a damp kitchen towel in a glass bowl. The tray is covered with cling film. Make sure the paper stays damp. If half of the seeds have sprouted after a few days, the seeds are still usable.

Do you have to prefer hollyhocks?

Bringing the hollyhocks forward has many advantages, but it is not absolutely necessary. It is also possible to sow the seeds directly into the bed. The strong plants can be transplanted in autumn. In the following year you can enjoy the splendor of the flowers.

How can a hollyhock bed be designed?

Hollyhocks are a real bee pasture. Especially varieties with single flowers attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Due to their tall growth, the flowers are suitable for planting on house walls and fences. When they grow very large, they can be tied up. Perfect bed partners are medium-tall flowering perennials such as delphiniums or lupins. They have similar needs for care and location.

Category:

Garden plants