i got seeds from a variety of places (grocery store, big box stores, etc...) I CAN'T get anything to grow from seed except phlox (only the big round green seeds that come off plants not the other weird kind.lol and hollyhock. nothing else has grown for me and ive tried so so so many different kinds of plants. they definitely take a bit to mature..as the ones I started in June are maybe 12-15" tall now and the ones I started in early July are a few inches. I will actually be moving them to deeper pots where I;m sure they will start growing. For the most part. they are super easy. i would try the big stores...also garden stores...but also amazon and ebay (go with the bigger sellers..not the backyard people who may or may not have seeds sitting around for a long time and may or may not be storing them properly.

I'm not sure I've seen dwarf hollyhock seed for sale in the local stores. The only dwarf HH I ever saw were also plants at a nursery like maybe four or five years ago. Since then, I haven't come across any. I wonder if they weren't hardy enough for my area and the nursery decided not to stock again. I'm also curious if the dwarf variety are less likely to get disease, etc. If you come across any seed for sale post back.

Thanks y'all. I did order some from Eden Brothers bc I received some nice dahlias from them last yr.

val do you mind telling me how you winter sowed?

GW has (had?) a Winter Sowing forum. val probably knows about that too.

prettypetals,

Check out wintersown.org....it gives all the info you need on how to wintersow, so you get all the steps correct and reap the benefits. But basically you use a covered container, put holes in the bottom for drainage, top for rain snow to get in and nature "waters" your seeds during the winter and in spring; The method emulates nature except it keeps the seeds safe from being washed away, eaten by critters, etc.

The seeds germinate at the right time, and because they are growing "outside" in a container, they germinate a little earlier (with their "greenhouse effect" of the container) and are much more hardy than inside grown seeds and no hardening off process needed. When it starts to get really warm in spring time (70 or over) you start to open the tops in the daytime to make sure the seedlings dont "bake" and might have to water if spring weather does not send enough rains.

Then when it's planting time in your area, you plant the seedlings in your garden.

Feel free to message me if you have more questions after reading wintersown.org links/info

Be happy to help!

This year, I am going to prepare an area in my garden and try to direct sow the hollyhock seeds right there in the garden and see how well they take. In general, they self sow, I'm told, but this was my first year growing them

Val

Thank you so much Val and schoolhouse. I will definitely look at the wintersown.org and the winter sowing forum. I appreciate all of your help.

Good luck Val with your direct sowing. Thanks again, Judy

direct sowing is best. plant them in late summer-early autumn. rough up the soil, scatter the seed and rake them in. don't cover them to much, give them a good watering and in about a week they should be up. wait til next spring to thin them out. in my experience dwarf hollyhocks can't compare to full size. good luck

Thanks so much daves10z7annv. I think I will get my spot ready next week and try my luck at it. I'm sure the tall ones are prob better but I hate staking. I already have tons of stuff to stake and wondering if these dwarf will need to be staked too. Thanks again, Judy

I wintersowed Hollyhock seeds and they've grown spectacularly. They flowered the first year, too!

I have grown the dark maroon single tall hollyhocks for years from seed that another gardener gave me. I just let the some of the seeds fall each August and get new volunteers. I haven't needed to stake them, and am in a windy area, though I do have them planted in a sheltered area. Here they are, just starting to bloom. You might want to try the tall ones to see if they really need staking in your garden.

Thanks you two. Your hollyhocks look great. I hope to get some scattered next week. Had hoped to this week but never got to it.

Thanks, Judy

Thank you so much Val, for the valuable information. I just got hollyhock seeds from my friend who lives up North. I am going to do what you suggested and winter sow some AND direct sow in the garden. I've never been able to keep hollyhock going here, but have prepared a new bed that I think might accommodate them This is exciting!!!

It is exciting Mertie! I hope hope hope to get mine direct sowed this week. I have a good spot picked out and hope they do great. I sooooo appreciate everyone's help!! Judy

Such beautiful photos. My experience is that the seeds grow easily, but should not be buried, but allowed to get light. They germinate better for me. Mine always get rust after a year or so, and die away. Have not seen the Russian sort, that does not get rust as easily, for sale.

Prettypetals~ Judy~ Good luck with your direct sowing! I did that last week, as well as started 2 flats so I can keep my eye on them and take better care. I also SO appreciate everyone's help here. I always learn so much from the helpful advise of you good folks!