Black single Hollyhocks are a biannual. Thereby, sowing seed this year will give you blooms next year, or sow seed end of summer for blooms in the following year.
Blooms offer Anthocyanin shades; purple, mauve and grey. Excellent for eco printing and therefore pressing, Simplest format is to remove the stamen to press and reduce moisture or take care when releasing the pressed blooms to ensure the entire flower petals and stamen remain intact.
Sow in cells end of summer, to pot on, in the fall. Plant out in garden beds preferable at the back line of said border or garden bed. Hollyhocks grow long stems in some cases 9 feet circa 2 meters tall which are lined with flowers. Loved by Bees allow the pollen to show signs of displacement an indication Bees have visited before harvesting blooms for their colour.
Once plants have completed their flowering cycle cut the main stem down and mulch well. This may assist a second year of blooms but not guaranteed. Alternatively to keep supply sow every year!
Best on protein fibres, for printing and immersive dye pot, at a gentle heat to capture the anthocyanin shade of purple. rapid heat will damage the Anthocyanin rendering pigment at a grey purply mauve.
Approx 20 Seeds per pack
Grown & harvested in Guernsey, Channel Island, GBG
