You can definitely grow your hollyhocks indoors or in a heated greenhouse for the next season. However, this is not absolutely necessary. Hollyhocks can also be sown outdoors.
Can you prefer hollyhocks?
Hollyhocks can be grown in the house or greenhouse by sowing them in nursery pots from February and keeping them evenly moist. After about 2-3 weeks, the seeds germinate and the young plants can be planted outdoors in May after pricking out and getting used to it.
Sowing hollyhocks correctly
If you would like to grow your hollyhocks in winter, then start sowing around February. You can still sow indoors in March, but from April onwards, growing outdoors is recommended. Hollyhocks grown outdoors are more robust and winter-hardy than those grown in warm rooms.
The hollyhock seeds are large enough to be distributed individually in the cultivation pot (€8.00 on Amazon). This will make it easier for you to prick out the young plants later. Water the seeds well and keep them evenly moist during the germination period. After about 2 – 3 weeks the first green leaves can be seen. A few weeks later you can carefully prick out the plants.
Planting out hollyhocks
If the days in May are already pleasantly mild, then put your indoor hollyhocks outside for an hour during the day. This way they can slowly get used to the sun and fresh air. If night frost is no longer expected, then plant the hollyhocks in the chosen location that is as sunny as possible.
Hollyhocks sown outdoors should be transplanted in autumn, then they have enough time to grow and form their deep taproots before winter. Next year you can look forward to the colorful blossoms from around June or July.
The most important things in brief:
- Pulling forward when warm is possible but not necessary
- Cover seeds with soil (dark germinator)
- Keep sowing evenly moist
- Germination time approx. 2 – 3 weeks
- Pricking out young plants
- maintain sufficient distance when planting
- Open field seeding produces more resilient plants
Tip
Hollyhocks grown early in February can still bloom in the year they are sown. If you chose these plants late, there is still a chance of early flowering.
