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| Althaea | Common name; Hollyhock |
Double flower
Single flower
Althaea is best treated as an annual.
If you wish to treat this plant as a perennial, sowing times will differ.
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When grown as a perennial it is more susceptible to ‘rust’. (small rings of orange/brown powder)
Routine spraying with a recommended fungicide will help to keep this problem at bay.
Week 6; If growing as an annual, sow seed in trays of seed compost and maintain a minimum temperature of 16°-18°C(61°-64°F)
Germination should take four or five days.
Week 7; Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle (approx 3 weeks) into 70mm (3”) pots of potting compost, and place in cold frame to grow on until planting out time.
Week 13; With perennial watch out for slug damage when new growth emerges, and treat accordingly.
It is advisable to protect the young growth from late frost with cloches.
Week 15; Apply an annual mulch of well-rotted manure and water freely during dry weather.
Week 18; Plant out annuals 600mm (24") apart in a humus rich soil.
As with most tall herbaceous plants, hollyhocks will benefit from some kind of support, particularly in exposed situations.
As the flowers fade, cut back the flowering stems to approx 150mm (6") above ground level.
This will often encourage a second flush of flowers.
Week 26; If growing as a perennial, sow seed in trays and place in cold frame to germinate.
alternatively; sow directly into a nursery bed.
Week 28; When seedlings are large enough to handle pot up into 150mm (6”) pots and grow on in a cold frame until planting out time .
Week 41; Plant out perennials 600mm (24") apart in a humus rich soil.
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