Whether purchased seeds or seeds from your own plants - sowing mallow is usually successful. But provided that the seeds are sown correctly. You can find out how to do this here.
When and how do you sow mallow seeds?
Mallow seeds are sown between February and April, depending on the species. Direct sowing in the garden is possible from April, while pre-growing in pots takes place between February and March. To sow, place the seeds 2 cm deep in nutrient-rich, humus-rich and calcareous soil, water generously and the seeds will germinate within a week at 20-23°C.
Don't miss the right time
It is much more of a period in which you can sow the mallow seeds. For example, if you want to sow the easy-to-grow cup mallow, wild mallow, blue mallow or Mauritanian mallow, you don't need to grow them at home. It is sufficient to sow these species directly on site in April.
Other species such as hollyhock, bush mallow and tree mallow are worth pre-cultivating. Then flowering is guaranteed in the same year. You should start moving forward between February and March. These mallows can be planted outdoors from April.
Step by step to seedling
The seeds, which look like fossil snail shells, are small and brown-black in color. How to germinate them:
- Cover with soil 2 cm thick
- maintain a distance of 25 cm between the seeds, 5 cm for pre-cultivation with subsequent pricking out
- pour generously and keep moist afterwards
- At 20 to 23 °C the seeds germinate after a week
When the seedling is visible
When the mallows have reached a size of 8 to 10 cm, you can prick them out. From this stage onwards they grow best at temperatures between 15 and 20 °C.
When it comes to planting out, the following location and soil characteristics should be taken into account:
- Location: sunny to partially shaded, sheltered
- Substrate: nutrient-rich, humus, permeable, calcareous
- Milieu: dry to slightly moist
Tips & Tricks
It's worth collecting the seeds in late summer. To do this, simply cut off the dried seed heads and store them in a bag or container until next year.
