How To Grow Hollyhocks from Seed - Seed to Flowers

[@BeckeyGirard]

Thanks for the detailed yet NOT long winded. Much appreciated!

[@thorazine8402]

Thanks Johnny. My wife and I love hollyhocks, and are starting to surround our house with them. Thanks again for this useful info.

[@Bettinasisrg]

I've got lots of hollyhocks, mostly pinks and reds, then I saw some in a church yard that were purple, white, and black so I waited until they had seed pods and gathered some seeds from each color (I asked). I just toss them onto the ground in fall and spring and they grow wonderfully, even in grassy areas! Thanks for the great info to plant in containers, I've never tried that with hollyhocks.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Bettina, they are actually happier in the ground, however grow well in pots for those who do not have the space or position in the ground. You can also, 'Put Them Away' when dormant in pots if you wish. We have some very deep red - near black ones, coming on this year, a bit exited about them....

[@ЮлиянНиколов-н2у]

​@@johnnyAGardening❤😮🎉

[@MzEbony_Luvz]

Precise and to the point, thank ya!!

[@BrittanyS143]

My Hollyhocks all bloomed the first year for me lol it was my first year planting anything and it was overwhelming lol! I choose i

[@mizzmartinni6014]

My favorite 😍 my mom has them in her backyard pinks, reds, whites and dark burgundy so beautiful! 💚💚👍🏽👍🏽

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Mizz, your mom sounds like our type of gardener, say hello to her from us, we have some seeds supposedly of near black Hollyhocks, looking forward to seeing them in flower next season.

[@evergreenrider]

Thank you! I was gifted some hollyhock seeds from George Washington's Mt Vernon home and have been wanting to get them right!

[@joanies6778]

Interestingly, several plants that were a product of self seeding did indeed flower in their first year. One of the three I had transplanted when it was several inches tall; it grew very tall with lots of deep red blooms that lasted into fall. What really surprised me is that I did not have that color in any of the other hollyhocks in my yard. It was a very pleasant surprise, indeed.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Joanie, that is interesting as we have had the same thing occur. I am beginning to think that seeds collected tend to take two seasons, whereas those that fall naturally are fresher and therefore are faster. With all of the seeds we have received by post or collected though it is almost always two seasons. We have just stated some almost black seeds so looking forward to them .

[@batchrocketproject4720]

I think the rule of thumb is the plants need to experience winter dormancy before flowering. Self-sown plants have germinated and formed small plants before the winter of the year the parent plant flowered whereas we tend to collect seeds late in the year and sow them the following spring - they don't flower because they think they're heading into winter as they normally germinate in autumn. As for new colours in seed offspring, this is normal and delightful. Although I've never done it, it is possible to propagate a favourite bloom by taking root cuttings and the resulting plant keeps the same colour.

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

So glad that I watched your video. My hollyhocks didn't bloom last year so I was considering relocating them.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Yes, sometimes the flower in the first year, other times not. And self seeding is also random... usually they recover and flower happily.

[@austinjk24]

Hello from Texas , your videos are fantastic. Full of information and interesting tips. Thank you !

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks for watching. Stay safe and well and may summer be kind to your garden.

[@gardentwitcheruk7076]

Great video, lots of information. Well done!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thank you!

[@SeededGarden]

My hocks are about 7’ tall now, their 3rd or 4th season I think. Their buds line up all along the stalks, and bloom from the bottom up. Now, there’s a second “run” of pods along the stalks, but I believe these are their seed pods, not flowering buds. I’m saving the seeds. Each pod has about 20 seeds, and a plant makes about 100 seed pods per stalk… I’m going to have a lot of seeds!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Once you get them going you do get lots of seeds... great plants, we are growing some really dark, near black ones this year....

[@neilspiring1498]

Nice video. I am going to give them a try . I live in Ontario . Any tips and tricks you can share , gretaly appreciated . Thanks Neil

[@johnnyAGardening]

Start the seeds inside in early spring, or even late winter if you have light and warmth. Seeds in individual pots so they transplant easily without root disturbance. Get them out into the sun as soon as it warms up, avoid frosts. 1 plant in a large container once they are ready to pot up. Get them out of the worst of winter and then second year they will flower. Also, fertilise them well in spring and summer....

[@neilspiring1498]

@@johnnyAGardening , our seeds are doing well in the garden along the garage. Need guidance on what to do with the plants with this fall . plants are over 5 feet tall now June 16 , 2021 in Belleville Ontario.

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hollyhocks are regarded as a biennial or short lived perennial. IF the roots are kept fairly dry over winter they MAY survive and come back the next the year. We collect the seed and often they will self seed, so they keep popping up. In your climate it may be a little cold and wet, so see the video on collecting seeds kzbin.info/www/bejne/noTGZYhqa9V4i8k

[@BrittanyJudkins]

Than you... I was really hoping to learn how to do this

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Brittany - Thanks for watching.

[@BeckeyGirard]

Beautiful flowers! Ive never seen them in Florida. Hmmm

[@johnnyAGardening]

Could be a little to humid for them. Worth a try in an open sunny position and a well drained soil.

[@bigoljoe1829]

I grew some of these this year not knowing how big they got or how long they took to flower. 😄 Off to buy them some bigger more ornamental pots for the long haul!

[@johnnyAGardening]

They do put on some size. But great plants

[@ethanboyd7843]

Do you need to overwinter them indoors? I followed your lead and now have a dozen strong plants in pots. Should I put them in the bed or leave in containers until next spring?

[@johnnyAGardening]

You need to make sure the roots do not freeze. Thats more common in pots than in the ground, however it depends on your climate zone. In the ground some growers use a thick mulch over winter, again it depends on the climate zone.

[@sunniesflowerco]

Well done video, much appreciated!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks, we are growing some near black ones from seed this year. May do a follow up on Hollyhocks.

[@slvpd]

I was hoping you would touch on any nutrient schedule you adhered to in the potted first year.

[@richardvaldes3959]

I've never had a problem growing them in any soil friend. From the worst to the best purchased soil they perform well. The only issue I ever have is I have to much success!

[@neilspiring1498]

My parents lived in Winnipeg Mb and always had them against the house. I did not know what they did to care for them it just seemed they grew back each year as a youngster growing up. I will continue to monitor the plants ,, I watched the video about harvesting , recall seeing those seed pods on my folks hollyhocks. Guess time will tell. The plants are quite tall and stems are getting thick , looking for advice on what I should do in the fall with the stocks , hoping to see flowers , will there be seed pods without seeing flowers? Thanks for taking the time to reply .. an old newbie

[@adelacozlac366]

I think that it depends on the hollyhock type, because I planted some.this year and they have buds, so they might be flowering in the first year. Maybe these new hibrid ones are different, who knows (on my packet said annual, not biannual). Sorry for my English, ot a native speaker.

[@Haeronalda]

Concerning the stems: you can cut them off, but leave the heart. It will wither away during winter and then grow back the next year as well as be bigger (the heart will carry more stems). The stems will also be thicker the 'older' they are. There won't be any seedpods without flowers unfortunately and hollyhocks in general need very little care. Rainwater and sunshine will do the trick. Last year my tallest grew to be almost 3m high and he was only two years old at the time. This year, he'll be three and I can't wait to see how big they'll become :)

[@AllotmentAdventure189]

Hi, thank you for the information. I would like to ask you if I potted them in the house till germination and in March I put them in the garden it will be alright?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Yes should be OK. We would use individual pots, this will allow for root development and make transplanting easier. by minimising root disturbance.

[@saporahbonnette2447]

Hello Johnny, I have a question. If I start them this year and plant them outside when it’s time to put them outside. They won’t bloom this year but they will next year? Will they survive being out in the winter? Will they bloom right away next year? Or will they take longer after winter is over the following year they bloom? Thank you!

[@johnnyAGardening]

Sometimes they do flower in the first year, but usually the second. Surviving the winter depends on the climate, in very cold areas with freezes they will need protection. In other areas they will survive through winter and flower the next season. So what climate zone are you in ?

[@angiemaestrado4966]

Thank you for sharing... How many months from planting will bloom the flowers?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Generaally Hollyhocks flower the year after the seeds are planted, so in the second year. Sometimes they flower in the first year, not very often

[@gwen-holmesross8666]

Hi Johnny Thank you for the video, could you explain how to winter these should I cut the stock down?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Gwen, we only cut back the old flower stem, and leave any foliage that is at ground level. Might do a video of hollyhocks in the second year if we get the chance.

[@es5605]

I live in zone 3. Do I need to cut them down in the Fall? Thank you!

[@johnnyAGardening]

They will naturally die back, however you can cut them back after they die back a little. If you leave them in the ground you will need a good layer of mulch over them if the winters are harsh in your particular position

[@es5605]

Thank you!😊

[@sangeetagadalay9629]

Kone mahine me dalna sheeds

[@michaelkellys3906]

How do I protect my mature hollyhocks from Japanese Beetles?? I have 10 foot tall hollyhocks & they're being decimated by these beetles. I've looked into Milky spore, however, it's an extremely long / 2 year process & I'm wondering the best insecticide to use for these?

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

Flick the beetles off into a bucket of soapy water.

[@marykathrynliving]

Hey Johnny. Thanks for the video. My neighbor gave me seeds last year. It's the end of June. I live in zone 6a (USA). Should I plant in pots, then put in the ground around September, or sow seeds directly into the ground, or wait till next year?

[@johnnyAGardening]

We would plant in pots as winter could be a problem with the young seedlings in your zone

[@tri5hco3]

What did you end up doing? Just bought some seeds and it’s end of June now

[@jeanettehawkins7472]

Do I take the light off after pop up?

[@antsfur]

Good video i planted some 18 of them on march the 1st only 3 have germinated ! I planted them about 1/3 of an inch deep and put them on the window sill with a plastic covering on top. what do you think my problem is? Only the white ones have germinated. Thanks

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Tony, if you mean the white flowering ones then maybe the other seeds were not viable. HOWEVER, I would leave them for a while as sometimes some seeds are slower than others. Are these seeds ones you collected yourself or purchased ?

[@antsfur]

@@johnnyAGardening thxs for the reply, I purchased them, some from premier seeds large red and white and a batch of purple ones from the Ukraine! I will leave them for longer I did soak them for about 12 hours prior to sowing. I might sow some more at the weekend and this time just lay them on top as you did so they get a bit of light. Thanks for the help

[@johnnyAGardening]

@@antsfur What color are the actual seeds ?

[@antsfur]

@@johnnyAGardening hi Johnny, they're brown. I have one more thats germinating a red flower seed so i guess they need leaving for longer. I hope the purple ones germinate as they are rare I believe. Thanks now 23 days since sowing.

[@cathyplantlover2862]

I do the wet paper towel in a baggy method and I get germination in 3 days to a week.

[@johnnyAGardening]

That is a good method as well. Thanks for watching

[@Julieoolums]

Hi Johnny Can hollyhock seeds ever be too old? I have some seeds that are about 10 years old?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Hello Julienne, if stored properly, (dry and cool) they can last around 10 years. Your germination rate might not be great, however, we would give them a try.

[@Julieoolums]

@@johnnyAGardening I'll give them a try....I have assorted colours collected by my late sister.

[@johnnyAGardening]

@@Julieoolums Always worth a try with assorted colours. Good luck.

[@leaelizabeth23]

Will they survive winter in zone 8a? We do have some freezing temperatures but not much

[@johnnyAGardening]

Should be OK in 8a as long as the ground does not freeze, and in 8a it should not, maybe cover them with some mulch in winter if you are worried

[@leaelizabeth23]

@@johnnyAGardening thanks. I have some i direct sowed but im not sure if they are going to come up. Ill just wait and see i suppose. I haven’t seen one come up quite yet. Hoping they will. I started them a little late. We are having some crazy hot temps for spring here in GA. I can definitely mulch them.

[@stevenvitali7404]

Hi my hollyhock have started to send the flowering spike up and they are only 3 months old?, will they still flower next year, the packet says they are perennial, I thought they only flowered in the second year?

[@johnnyAGardening]

The common Hollyhock A. rosea is a biennial and will usually flower in its second year, HOWEVER, is some conditions it acts like a short lived perennial. We have some that are into their third year of flowering.... They are supposed to die back after the second year....

[@cd4521]

How did you winter them over? I’m in Alaska

[@johnnyAGardening]

So they need to survive a freeze ? Best way might be to grow them in containers and cut them back hard when the foliage dies back. Then overwinter where they will not freeze, so indoors, a basement etc.. In the ground you could dig them after the foliage has died back, over winter in pots indoors and plant out in spring. MAYBE they would survive with a good deep cover of mulch, however not sure on that one. Often they are grown as annuals in Alaska and seed is planted in FEB. Hope this helps.

[@burcugunay750]

Gülhatim tea içecek 😭😀

[@carmenamaya9530]

Estas plantas son desol o de sombra

[@deidrenew7429]

How do you get the seeds from the flowers

[@johnnyAGardening]

Wait until the flowers die back and leave the seed pods on the plant until they dry. The pods can then be removed and opened. You can alsoleave the seed pods on the plant until they open, the seeds are easily removed by .hand. Store in a cool dry position.

[@deidrenew7429]

Thank you so much

[@大叔与多肉]

谢谢分享👍🥰🙏

[@yomama8873]

🤩🤩🤩💖💖

[@be1i3veall61]

2 months ?

[@PaulTheAnalyst]

When is the best time to sew the seeds

[@johnnyAGardening]

Winter to spring, outdoors after the last frost. We start them under cover in late winter. So it depends on the climate.

[@burcugunay750]

Gülhatim yah yah thak yau butbay 😅🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💯💯👍

[@Sach-Truth13]

I hear that they are very fragrant?

[@wolfherzen5423]

Mine flower every year

[@johnnyAGardening]

Yes they self seed after a while and are reliable for us.

[@schanelgurls7718]

My hollyhocks where half the size of yours in 7 days then it was in 14

[@jonathandough9413]

Several things missing from this video. If you're leaving them in the posts over the winter, will they be okay outdoors above ground in the pots, through winter freezes? You had the perfect opportunity to show us HOW you "tease out the roots" but didn't. I'm not sure what constitutes "a little bit." Also unclear, will these bloom only every other year, or is it just the first year that won't produce blooms?

[@johnnyAGardening]

Thanks for the comments, GENERALLY, Hollyhocks will overwinter in pots as long as they are not subjected to freezes. So put them under cover, mulch them or find another way to protect them from freezes. As for teasing out the roots, yes perhaps needed a closer more detailed look at that. Hollyhocks are biennials (two year life cycle) so again, generally flower in the second year, however they can also be short-lived perennials depending on climate and conditions. Ours generally last 3 -4 years although flower stems seems a little shorter as they age. They do self seed easily in good conditions, so can appear to be perennials in some gardens, but actually they are new plants.