Hollyhocks

[teresa]

I aquired   some hollyhock seeds never grown them before. So any help gratefully received do they have a tap root? so do I plant in pots or the ground  :-/ Teresa

[allotment_chick]

Hi Teresa - I sowed my first ever hollyhock seeds (Peaches and Dreams from T&M) on Saturday.   The packet advised that the seeds are best not covered with soil as germination is assisted by light (I was quite surprised at this as the seeds are quite big)....  I don't think I've seen them grown in pots - mine will be planted up the lottie for cut flowers (I hope!)  

[Ceri]

I grew peaches and dreams in my garden this year - but from seedlings someone gave me - one is currently eight foot high and fabulous - the others didn't get much more than 4-5 ft - but I'll be growing more as the colour and flower size is amazing!

[teresa]

thank both, funny not covering the seed will give it a go, no idea what they are one looked a dark red one. I aquired them from a unused lottie which someone is dumping stuff so it will look strange if I grow them down their  ;Dha ha, so I had better get them in now. Teresa

[allotment_chick]

Hi Teresa - just been for a wander round the garden and popped my head into the greenhouse, not expecting to see much new when, lo!  The Hollyhocks have germinated already - less than a week!  Blimey - hope they grow as well.  

[teresa]

Hi are yours in pots and what size? Next door want some seeds well she has just started gardening again  8)since we moved in a cut down a big tree she has light in the garden. So might be safer to give her them growing in pots. Teresa

[allotment_chick]

The seeds were sown in a big module about 2 inches x 3 inches.  When I prick them out (which might be quite soon if they carry on growing fast!) they will go into rootrainers. They should be OK in those until the spring, when I'll plant them out direct.  If you don't have any rootrainers, you could try modules, perhaps?  

[teresa]

AC, how about loo roll cartons I have loads use them for sweet peas on damp peat do they have tap roots? Teresa

[allotment_chick]

Hi Teresa
As the root business is critical in relation to what you does pot them into,  I feel a bit of research coming on!I've no idea if they've a tap root or not.  Leave it with me......

OK - here is the news!
- Hollyhock is a member of the mallow family
- They were an old herbal cure for sunburn (a compress of the leaves was applied)
- an infusion of the flowers was used to treat sore throats

Did I find any reference to their roots?  No, I did not.  However, as they are members of the mallow family I suspect they do have tap root, so the loo roll suggestion seems sound to me!

[teresa]

thanks AC for the info will get going.

[Ceri]

my hollyhocks are just finishing flowering now and looking a bit raggledy - I want to collect the seed from the best one for next year - I've never done this before - at what stage in the poor thing's demise can I collect the seed - and how please.

[teresa]

Hi Cerig

The flowers you had lower down the stem should now show the small seed pods.
These can be picked off ( have a look inside one should show seeds in a circle)
Pick the whole little pod and put in a large envelope to dry natuarly and LABLE what they are.
If yours were a F1 chances are the seedlings will be different colours to parent plant you may find a new colour.
If you sink a pot by the parent plant and fill with soil water and sow some seeds in it they should come if now not but in the spring. Mimick mother nature?
you could try some in a greenhouse and save some till spring.
Mine are just comming slowly but I got them off a lottie which someone had dumped them so nothing ventured nothing gained. Thats the joy of gardening something for nothing is always more fun.
Teresa

[Ceri]

Many thanks Theresa, I'll have a crack - I was given the seeds so don't know if they were F1, but one grew over 9ft in the end, so that's the one I'm going collect from.  Cheers

[teresa]

good luck Cerig let us know how you get on.
Teresa