|
Post by desertwoman on Jan 9, 2021 15:27:24 GMT -5
I have hollyhocks that reseed so haven't started my own for years but I am introducing a new (for me) color this year with some gifted seeds. Am wondering the best way to go about this...
I'm thinking it's probably too late to sprinkle some seed out there now (mimicking the self sow that they do)? so should simply direct sow in the spring? or Has anyone had success starting seed indoors and transplanting in spring?
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Jan 9, 2021 15:51:24 GMT -5
Hollyhocks are my challenge. The one year that I had minor success, the only plant that survived was a pale boring yellow/beige/white. I was looking for the colors that we had growing next to the outhouse.
Following. I'd love to have some next to the barn foundation.
|
|
|
Post by emmsmommy on Jan 9, 2021 15:59:35 GMT -5
binnylou, desertwoman, I did have some luck with hollyhocks many, many years ago (25 or so) when my sowing methods were a bit primitive. I believe at that time I just sprinkled the seed into the coldframe and transplanted them when they were a few inches tall. They eventually died out but probably had them for ten years or so.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Jan 14, 2021 6:13:45 GMT -5
desertwoman, I would think you could start seed indoors. I see hollyhocks for sale at greenhouses in the Spring. We had them years ago in the country, I think I just direct sowed them. They eventually died out after several years, they kept getting a fungus and there were too many to treat so let them go.
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Jan 14, 2021 6:24:46 GMT -5
I have a terrible problem with that fungus too. And the rabbits LOVED them. I had to put a screen around them.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jan 14, 2021 10:07:18 GMT -5
No problems with fungus here. Hollyhocks are actually fairly drought tolerant and do very well in this environment. They are a very popular flower here and are even seen growing wild in cracks (i.e. in sidewalks) and crevices through out town. My hollyhocks last for years and when they do die out there are plenty of new plants that have reseeded, to replace them.
I've read their roots don't like being disturbed so if starting indoors, plant in peat pots. I'm thinking I'll experiment and do both- scatter a few seeds outdoors in the spring and start a few indoors and see what happens.
|
|
|
Post by gardendmpls on Jan 14, 2021 10:15:15 GMT -5
they kept getting a fungus Hollyhocks are susceptible to many types of rusts. One thing to do is grow resistant varieties, like Happy Lights, which grew well for me. Antwerp, Russian and Turkish varieties are resistant. You can get some in separate colors so you have what you like. The rust doesn't like hot dry conditions, so Desertwoman's conditions should be great. I found this article has good info on growing and lists resistant varieties. Also has good references to other info to check. empressofdirt.net/grow-hollyhocks/
|
|
|
Post by tom π on Jan 14, 2021 10:18:16 GMT -5
Spider mites are bad on hollyhocks here.
|
|
|
Post by heirloomfan on Jan 14, 2021 11:46:36 GMT -5
I started my hollyhocks indoors spring 2019. Plants did well, didn't bloom that first year, but wintered over without very much protection and did bloom well last year. They can act like biennials so that made sense to get the second year bloom, and some say to keep them going to keep sowing the seeds in the late summer through fall. The bees really enjoyed them. \\\
And we have rabbit problems here too and they did like to get in the beds and eat those large leaves. So this year I have to do more protection against them. Also, the hollyhock that bloomed last year were supposed to be doubles, they weren't, so I notified the seed company and they resent another packet. I sowed some of those from the new packet late fall and will be interesting to see they come up and if I do get doubles this year.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Jan 17, 2021 17:40:47 GMT -5
I'm going to try coleus from saved seed this year. A first for me.
|
|
|
Post by claude on Jan 23, 2021 6:53:15 GMT -5
Zero results w poppies..seeding myself...in my area we seed in the fall for next years flowers...maybe rabbits got them.? We do have a family in the side yard. The only way I had poppies was when I bought a pot of already budding. Iβm planting morning glories and moon flowers around the deck. Itβs lovely in the evening to sit on the deck while the spent blooms of the morning glories giveaway to the huge fragrant, moon flowers.
|
|
|
Post by heirloomfan on Feb 25, 2021 13:22:58 GMT -5
Claude, last year I didn't have many poppies come up when I had sown quite a few the fall before. One day I looked out and there were lots of birds in my poppy patch and realized later that they probably found and ate quite a bit of the seed! So when I sowed more last fall, I put a piece of screen over the patch for a while and about 3 wks ago removed the screen and just put bird netting over the bed. I hope this will help get more poppies this spring. We also have rabbit issues, they seem to try to eat most of what they can access, so they might have gotten to the seedlings as well. claude, Here are a couple of poppies from 2019:
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 13, 2021 11:53:00 GMT -5
Petunia seeds have sprouted. My goodness, they are tiny when they first emerge.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 13, 2021 11:59:53 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Mar 13, 2021 18:33:23 GMT -5
binnylou, I have grown them and they seemed to self seed too. I just direct sow the seed. An elderly friend long ago told me to seed them on Mother's Day.
|
|