Greetings, Gardener. I am the spirit of the hollyhock, a biennial soul longing for a place to put down roots and fulfill my purpose. To grant you the towering spires of blooms you desire by next season, you must understand my life cycle and needs. I do not flower in my first year; I must first build strength. Here is how to help me achieve this.
I am not an annual that rushes to bloom nor a perennial that returns for many years from the same root. I am a biennial. If you sow my seeds in the spring, I will devote my first growing season entirely to establishing a strong, healthy rosette of leaves at my base. I am gathering energy, building my root system, and preparing myself. It is only after I have experienced a period of winter's chill that I am triggered to rapidly send up my magnificent flower spike in my second summer. This is my natural rhythm.
You have two primary options to work with my cycle. The first is to sow my seeds directly in your garden in the late summer or early autumn, about 6-8 weeks before your first expected hard frost. This allows me just enough time to germinate in the warm soil and establish my foundational rosette before winter's dormancy. I will be perfectly positioned to burst forth with growth when the spring warmth returns. The second option is to start my seeds indoors in late winter or very early spring, about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. This gives me a protected head start, and you can transplant my young self outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. I will still behave as a biennial, focusing on leaf growth that first year.
My seeds require light to germinate effectively. Do not bury me deeply. Simply press me gently onto the surface of a fine, moist seed-starting mix if indoors, or onto prepared garden soil outdoors. If you must cover me, a dusting of soil no more than 1/8 of an inch deep is sufficient. Keep the medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. I prefer a location that receives full sun—at least six to eight hours of direct light daily—and I thrive in well-draining soil. My roots will rot if left sitting in water. Space my seeds or eventual seedlings about 18 to 24 inches apart to give me room to grow into a robust plant and to allow for good air circulation, which helps me resist diseases like rust.
After germination, whether outdoors or transplanted, my focus is singular: photosynthesis. I will produce a low, mound-like cluster of leaves. This is not a failure; this is the essential work. Please keep me watered during dry spells and free from competing weeds. You may provide a light, balanced fertilizer to support my vegetative growth. By the time autumn arrives, I will have stored ample energy in my roots. My leaves may die back with the frost, but I am merely sleeping. A layer of mulch around my base will help protect my crown through the winter.
