Overwintering Hollyhock seedlings.

16 years ago

On the spur of the moment, I purchased a package of hollyhock seeds mid- to late-August and planted them in a starter tray. Germination was very good and the little seedlings have been coming along as well as can be expected. They are now two inches or so in height (Sorry! That would be 5 cm.) and their second leaves are developing nicely. Problem is, in mid-September 'first frost' is just around the corner here in Fredericton, NB. The seedlings are too small to plant out, and, to tell the truth, I have yet to prepare the area for which they are destined! So, I turn to those wiser and more seasoned than myself for ideas as to how to overwinter these small plants in that tray so as to maximize their chances of surviving into the spring. I would appreciate any suggestions that anyone may be able to offer. Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

northerner_on

16 years ago

Dap, I don't know if you have followed any of the above advice, but I'll tell you how I start my hollyhock's every year. Because they are biennial and I hate wasting space growing anything that will not flower, I start my hollyhocks every summer (around the same time you did) in small pots (maybe 2-3 inch pots). By the time late September rolls around and I am putting my garden to bed, I have small seedlings with probably their first set of leaves and I sink the entire pot in the ground, cover with some dried leaves, and they are fine in the spring. By then I have some place to plant them (the spot last year's were), I transplant them, and they grow and bloom beautifully. I don't think I've ever lost one, but then I only need about 4 plants. I don't know if they remain evergreen through the winter, or if they drop their leaves and produce new ones in the spring because I don't go looking for them until I'm ready to plant them out. I usually sink them in my veggie. garden which is still untouched at that time. Hope this helps.

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Comments (8)

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
16 years ago
If you can't plant them out at all, pot them up into larger containers and keep them in a sunny window or under lights all winter. I would water minimally and not fertilize until closer to spring.

If the seedlings are already outside, you should be able to plant them and then mulch well for their first winter just to be on the safe side.
ljpother
16 years ago
I would plant them. Hollyhocks have a long tap root and don't like transplanting. Most of my transplants that survive take a year to recover and bloom. Hollyhocks are hardy and I don't think they will have a hard time surviving.
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ianna
16 years ago
I agree with lipother's suggestion. You can 'protect' them by creating cloches out of gallon pop bottles. Hollyhocks are biennials and so they do have to overwinter outdoors. Remember that it's the roots you will need to protect. The tops will die off in winter and reemerge in sping.

Ianna
daniel_cl
16 years ago
I am in a very similar situation. This is our first time with hollyhocks.

We started 20 seeds in July and left the seedling pots in the backyard. They happy grew to 2", but then rabbit came and reduced them to nothing. Luckily the roots have stored enough energy to regorw the leaves. Then the rabbits came again... We then used plastic water bottles to protect them, then the leafminer came and chewed tunnels in the leaves...

We moved in the pots about a week ago. 17 out of 20 survived, several are doing very well - the largest are about 4" high now. We also give a few of them 1-gallon pots so they have plenty of room to grow roots. The tray sits beside a SSE-facing bay window.

Unfortunately we can't tell you whether this strategy will work. But experience has told us that leaving seedlings outdoors can be very risky.
oilpainter
16 years ago
Please don't cover them with a pop bottle. Pop bottles are great for covering plants in the spring. They make neat little clouches.
With Your plants, you want them to go dormant not grow and heat builds up under the bottles. I would do as northerner on suggested and bury the pots and mulch. They will do better that way than any other way.

I have often done just that with perennials and biennial seedlings to save them for the next summer.
kdesign7
16 years ago
Hey, I am new to this site, and I came across it by searching Google for HollyHock seeds. I also live in Fredericton NB, and I am on the hunt for HollyHock Seeds, but Im onsure where to purchase them.

If anyone could give me a suggestion that would be fantastic!
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
16 years ago
If you go to the Canadian Garden Exchange forum, someone will have seeds. Or you can email me through Gardenweb and i can send you some. I have lots of seeds for pink and red hollyhocks.