Gardening expert Tom Strowlger has shared advice on collecting hollyhock seeds before September to achieve a continuous flow of flowers. The season of harvesting seeds is upon us, offering the chance to collect seeds before autumn winds blow them from the browning pods onto the ground. A small container and a pair of hands is all that is needed to collect seeds and sow them elsewhere in the garden.
The biennial nature of hollyhocks
Hollyhocks are a particular favourite of Strowlger, with tall flowering stems that grow from just about any nook and cranny in the garden. They are biennial plants, meaning they grow foliage in the first year and then flower in the second year. As a result, seed needs to be sown several years in a row to achieve a continuous flow of flowers.
How to collect and sow hollyhock seeds
The seed pods of the hollyhock will show once the flowers drop, starting off as green pods and slowly turning a beige colour. This is the same for other plants, with seed pods turning brown in readiness for autumnal winds to blow the seeds out. Once the hollyhock seed pods are beige, they can be cut from the stem and opened up like little parcels. Lifting the flaps of the seed pod exposes a ring of seed.
The seed can be gently removed and placed in a small container. When choosing where to sow the seeds, look for a spot in the garden which gets lots of sunshine in spring and summertime and has little else happening. Hollyhocks are masters at growing in difficult places and are fairly drought tolerant. Rake the soil to make better contact with the seed, then sow seed on the surface and let the seed find the gaps to settle and germinate.
Winter hardiness and future sowing
The seeds tolerate harsh winter weather and will germinate once the temperatures lift, thus beginning the two-year cycle of the hollyhock. Sow more seed in the same spot next year to get a cycle of hollyhock flowers. The same technique can be used for other annual and biennial flowering plants.
Last week, Strowlger shared his top tips to care for Dahlias before autumn so they grow more brightly coloured flowers. He also offers seasonal gardening advice and tips on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube under the handle @garden_with_tom.
