A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Plant Propagation Hollyhock seed collecting

Okay. I have three Hollyhocks near my deck in my backyard. I have noticed where the seeds come from, and I know that seeds are in the pods I have seen.

My question is this: When is it safe for me to pull them off the plant? I have been taking them off, and I have been waiting until they are yellow and dry before I pluck them off.

My second question is this: Can I just spread them onto the mulch and dirt now? Or should I really wait until next spring?

Ideas and suggestions are greatly wanted. I am new to Hollyhocks, and I want hoardes of them!

Thanks guys!

I'd wait until the naturally dry on the plant...

You could spread them now, but I'd wait until early spring, maybe start them inside... but starting them outside, once it gets cold, could save you the trouble in the spring!

I'd spread half of them now and the other half in spring.

I've actually started some of mine in pots right now to transplant this fall. Keep in mind they need light to germinate, so don't cover them.

So...I have two entire little rubbermaid containers full of them. Should I use all of them for the second year? I want more than I have this year, but I don't want them to be out of control.

i do like what tamara says half now n half in spring
holly hocks are biennials, if you start half now youll get the leafs now n blooms next year, n if you start half in spring youll get leafs next near, n blooms the following year,
this way youll have blooms every year instead of waiting every other year

me to alan! i got em in pots to transplant:} thought i lost em this year they didnt grow as good n the pods looked bad, so i started more in the pots just to see new sprouts coming up in the bed! lol ill have a bunch hopefully next year!

o and i take the seeds off when the stems are brown, that way i know for sure there done.

^Thanks! I'll make sure my friends know they're biennials when I give some of the seeds away. I don't have enough room to put all of hte seeds down!