Does misery like company? I have poor germination on holly hocks this year too. Some containers have no sprouts, some have one or two.

I was very excited about a pack of red mini-hollyhocks I got in trade and sowed them around the end of March. I got one sprout, than another in 2 weeks then...nothing. But I peeked in this morning and there are 2 more tiny tiny sprouts coming up. Makes it hard to plant HOS as they are at all different stages, but I am going to try to prick out the more mature ones and get them in the ground this weekend (I don't think HH like to be in containers for tooo long).

In other years I have gotten MUCH better gremination. I think the problem here is that it just has not warmed up consistantly, but you surely have some warmth in NC, no?

Until this week it has reamined in the 50s-60s at night. Daytime in the 70s-80s. It is a mystery. I have tons of seed but it won't germinate. Very strange. Thanks for your input Nan. I was wondering where everyone was! I posted here and on the growing from seed forum. I will check there for suggestions.

I usually sow my HH's in the summer, sink them in the ground in their pots over winter and plant them out in the spring. They are usually about 4 inches tall by now, but this year, they are still too small to plant out. This afternoon I was visiting a gardening friend and she complained about her Nasties. not growing, and her Cannas which she plants out each spring not even showing a sprout. I think we are all in the same boat - it's not warm enough and nothing's growing. I fear many of my direct sown seeds are just rotting in the ground.

Northerner, I am sure you are right and the weather has a lot to do with no germination. It has warmed up quickly here- mid 90s- so I will keep looking for germination. I am going to try your sink the pot method of overwintering and plant out when they are bigger. Linda Jo

I direct sowed over 100 nastie seeds - Alaska and Mahogany (in different spots) and I have about 15 germinated seedlings!!! I too fear they will rot in the ground before sprouting. but what can you do? I thought about trying to dig them up, trying to germinate in cups in a warmer place and then put back in the ground but then... common snse struck. I just do not have the time with so many other garden concerns calling to me! Maybe they will be fine.

Just rec'd this month's issue of Country Gardens magazine and there is an article on Hollyhocks in it. I haven't read it yet since I don't grow them so can't tell you what it says.

My Black hollyhock (received in trade) germinated very well. So well that I had to give many away.
I planted out three. One of them is not doing too well, but the other two are. After this week of sunny, 80-degree weather, these two are huge.
Hope you get some germination soon.