Tips On Hollyhocks Growing Hollyhocks Successfully

Hollyhocks need full sun and moist, rich, well drained soil. The mistake many novice hollyhock growers make is to plant this flower in soil that is too dry. If you are planting seeds, sow the seeds outside about a week before last frost. If you are planting seedlings out, wait about two to three weeks after last frost.

How do you grow hollyhocks successfully?

Sow at just ¼ inch deep and about 2 feet apart. Hollyhocks have long taproots, so if seeds are started indoors, use tall, individual pots and transplant early to avoid damage. Start indoor seeds about 9 weeks before the last average frost date. Seedlings can be placed outside two to three weeks after the last frost.

Should hollyhocks be cut back?

Hollyhock Pruning Requirements

Hollyhocks are short-lived flowers. ... Although pruning is not required for healthy plants, cutting back the stalks after they flower can encourage them to bloom more than once in a season, advises the University of California Master Gardeners of Napa County.

What do you spray Hollyhocks with?

Spraying infested hollyhocks with malathion insecticide kills adult weevils without affecting feeding or pupating larvae. Mix a solution of 1 tablespoon of insecticide concentrate to each gallon of water.

When should hollyhocks be pruned?

Cutting the flower stems down by half when they are 18 inches tall and again before they bloom -- when tall varieties are 3 feet tall -- produces stockier flower stems. At 3 to 4 feet tall they are better able to stay upright, and this produces a fuller plant and delays flowering by several weeks.

Can hollyhocks grow in shade?

Hollyhocks are easy to grow, although many varieties are biennial and take two years from seed to flower. ... With adequate moisture and good drainage, hollyhocks can thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Do hollyhocks spread?

Once you get Hollyhocks established you will have them forever. You will have to be sure and dead head them to prevent getting too many, they spread easily but that is all part of gardening. Single flower hollyhocks attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and they are host plants for the Paint Lady larvae.

What do you do with hollyhocks when they have finished flowering?

How and When to Deadhead Hollyhocks. Removing spent hollyhock blooms is pretty simple: just pinch or clip off those that have faded and finished flowering, before the seed pod forms. You can do this throughout the growing season. Pinch off spent blooms and dead leaves regularly to promote more growth and flowers.

Do hollyhocks multiply?

Hollyhocks normally grow as biennials or possibly short lived perennials and thus are traditionally allowed to self sow in order to replenish their patch.

How do you winterize hollyhocks?

Prune the leaves and stems back to 6 inches (15 cm.) from the ground in fall. The hollyhocks then need a layer of organic material over the root zone to protect them from freezing. Use straw, compost, leaf litter or mulch.

How do you keep hollyhocks healthy?

Tips for Maintaining Your Hollyhocks

Plant Hollyhocks in a Suitable Location. Hollyhock's relish full sunlight with balanced soil that drains efficiently. ...
Water Hollyhocks Regularly. ...
Fertilizer Use. ...
Companion Planting. ...
Remove Spent Blossoms. ...
Prune Your Hollyhocks. ...
Winterizing Your Hollyhocks.

Are hollyhocks invasive?

Hollyhock mallow is recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. Although it is not considered invasive, other Malva species can become weedy and potentially invasive in some areas, so be certain you are purchasing plants or seeds for the desired species.

How do I protect my hollyhocks from bugs?

Spray insecticidal soap directly on these pests; it will kill them on contact. If caught early in the season, you may be able to prevent them from laying eggs by checking nightly, destroying the pests you find, until no more hollyhock weevils are detected.

Do hollyhocks come up every year?

They appear to be perennials as they do come back year after year but they are actually biennials which self-seed prolifically. Being a biennial means that it is often best to start new Hollyhocks in August or September so that they will then bloom the following summer.

Why are my hollyhocks not blooming?

Hollyhocks are actually a biennial. They may not bloom every year. Plants grown from bare roots are more reliable in blooming. Over fertilizing with too high of nitrogen can also inhibit flowering.

Do hollyhocks self seed?

Hollyhocks self-sow, so once you have introduced them they should spring up of their own volition, but they will creep to the sunny, open front of the bed. ... Dig up self-sown seedlings and pot them into a 3in pot.

What month do you plant hollyhock seeds?

When to plant

Pot grown hollyhocks are best planted in spring or autumn, but can be planted at any time, spacing them 60cm (24in) apart.

Do hollyhocks bloom first year?

Hollyhocks do not usually bloom the first year from seed unless it is sown early. They also self-sow and the first year the seedlings will not bloom.

What animals eat hollyhocks?

If the plants are being chewed off whole or in large pieces, the possible suspects would include groundhogs or woodchucks. These animals are unpredictable and potentially quite dangerous and are best removed by an animal control specialist.

How deep do Hollyhock roots go?

The hole should be wider than the roots and deep enough to encourage the long taproot of bare root hollyhock plants to easily grow downward. When planting, the taproot should point downward. Don't plant too deeply though, just a couple inches (5 cm.) below the soil.

Should you fertilize hollyhocks?

Hollyhocks don't need heavy fertilization. Over-fertilization can result in leggy, weak stems and poor flowering. Too much nitrogen can also aid fungal disease growth.

What do hollyhocks symbolize?

Hollyhocks are symbolic of the cycle of life, and so you find them i funeral practices of the ancients, as well as fertility. You're hard pressed to find a malevolent use for the plant. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the pollen which drips onto the petals, spreading fertility to the witch's garden.