Late summer is an exciting time for everyone who loves hollyhocks. Because now you can prefer hollyhocks. In autumn the young plants are placed in the bed or in the bucket so that they can grow there before the first frost.
The hollyhock is particularly popular for its delicate flowers and traditionally decorates gardens and balconies. Growing from seeds is uncomplicated and even inexperienced hobby gardeners will have no problem.
Prefer hollyhocks: This is how they can be grown in pots
The right time for this is late summer when the seeds are harvested. In early autumn, the early plants can then be planted in the bed, where they can survive the winter outside with winter protection. In the first year they develop their roots and foliage and react very sensitively to changes in location or care errors. The flowering period begins in the second year.
Harvest the seeds
From around the beginning of August, the hollyhock begins to form seed capsules. After about 10 to 14 days, they turn light brown, dry out and open. Then you can carefully open the fruit capsules and carefully remove the seeds with a spoon. The seeds are then allowed to dry on newspaper at room temperature. Planting can begin after just 72 hours. Alternatively, you can line a disposable glass with kitchen paper and put the seeds in the glass. Empty cardboard Advent calendar boxes are also good for storing seeds.
Sowing the hollyhocks: instructions
The hollyhocks are best grown directlysown after harvest. The ideal room temperature should be 15 degrees Celsius. If you would like to grow hollyhocks in pots on the balcony or terrace, then you should plant the seeds in the soil at least 20 cm apart. The hollyhocks do best when they are soloists in the pot or combined with other low-growing plants. This is how you proceed correctly when sowing:
1. Mix the growing substrate yourself: Mix the growing soil with compost and sand in a ratio of 6: 2: 1. Loosen the soil. Fill the pot or bucket with the substrate.
2. Plant three seeds per 30 liters of soil volume. Place the seeds at a distance of 6 cm - 7 cm from each other and cover with a thin layer of potting soil. Alternatively, you can grow the seeds individually into seed pots and then transplant them.
3. Keep soil moist for the next 20 days so that the seeds can germinate. The young plants should sprout after about 2-3 weeks and form a pair of leaves. Then you can transplant them in groups of three.
4. However, you must not miss the right moment for transplanting. Hollyhocks are deep-rooted and there is always a risk of damaging their roots once the plants have already established themselves.
5. In the large bucket, the seeds need at least 40 liters of soil volume and ∅ 50 cm to properly develop their root system.
The optimal time for planting in the garden is in late summer, at least two weeks before the first frost.
Popular planting partners
Many perennial plants are suitable as planting partners, but the iris flowers, forget-me-nots, phlox and autumn asters look particularly beautiful.
This is how you continue to care for the young plants in pots
The young plants are fairly easy to care for as long as you follow a few basic rules.
- If you put them outside in autumn, you need a place on the balcony or in the garden that is protected from rain and wind.
- Since they shoot up very quickly and the stems can bend very easily, they need to be supported. It is best to tie the roses directly to a bamboo stick.
- During heat waves at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, you can increase the watering. Never let the soil dry out, but also make sure that there is no waterlogging in the pot. A thin layer of mulch can additionally protect the soil from drying out.
- The young plants do not need pruning in autumn, but winter protection is necessary. It is best to cover the pots with raffia mats before the first frost, place them on a wooden plate and cover them with spruce branches.
- From the second year onwards, hollyhocks are cut back close to the ground after the end of the flowering period and no longer need winter protection.
Hollyhocks are among the most beautiful flowering perennials in the home garden. Fortunately, they are very easy to care for and can be grown without any problems. The right time for this is late summer - their capsules are ready to harvest in mid to late August. The seeds can be grown straight away or stored for next year. The germination time is 2 weeks, after which they sprout and form small shoots with a pair of leaves. The young plants are then transplanted and regularly supplied with water during the growth phase. Fertilizer is not included in the program until spring; instead, compost is added to the potting soil.
