Content
- Is the hollyhock winter hardy?
- How do I care for my Hollyhocks in winter?
- The hollyhock in the spring
- Tips
Some varieties of hollyhock are conditionally hardy
Is the hollyhock winter hardy?
The hollyhock is more or less hardy, depending on the variety. Robust varieties can easily be left outside in the bed, others are grateful for a winter shelter or even a frost-free winter quarters. In technical jargon, this is called "conditionally hardy".
Some old varieties of hollyhock are even several years old, without ever having been frost-protected. However, breeding forms and hybrids often have different characteristics. Ask about the purchase of the plant or look at the seed pack for the winter hardiness, then you know exactly how you should handle your Hollyhocks for the winter.
How do I care for my Hollyhocks in winter?
If you live in a rough area, then protect your hollyhocks with a layer of brushwood or foliage from frost and cold wind. Sensitive varieties can also bring you into a frost-free winter quarters. Here your hollyhock winters without the risk of freezing. However, you should occasionally water the plants, otherwise they will die of thirst.
The hollyhock in the spring
Plant the hollyhock in the field again in May. Then put some horn shavings or compost in the planting hole. However, they should avoid a radical change in temperature. Once the plants have been put out and the outside is frost-free, place them outdoors for a few hours each day. Only after the ice sacs put the hollyhocks back to their usual place.
Hardy varieties in the open air release their winter protection already in April, as soon as longer periods of frost can no longer be expected. It is best to cut off the first green leaves so that they are not affected by the mallow. The fungal spores often overwinter in the ground and then return to the plants in the spring.
Tips
Hollyhock species should be hibernated in a frost-free greenhouse or similar premises, as they tolerate little or no frost.