Hollyhocks are a mix of vivid colors, including yellow, white, pink, and red. The Hollyhocks is an extremely striking flower and adds a sense of drama to the back of a garden bed or planting. The Hollyhock also has the ability to grow long flowers made up of multiple heads, giving it more flowers than the ordinary cut flower, hence improving the overall appearance of a planting in the garden. You may need to stake the stems when the heads start to bloom because of the weight of the head may cause the plant to droop. While starting seeds of the Hollyhocks is not necessarily difficult. Sow Hollyhocks seeds directly in the ground in the spring when the threat of frost has passed or start them in containers to transplant. Keep the ground moist but not wet for the first couple of weeks. When the seedlings stand about 3 inches tall, thin them out to at least 10 to 12 inches apart. Pick a sunny, well-drained spot for planting for the best performance. Hollyhocks will tolerate some shade but they may be shorter and bloom later. Direct-seeding into the Garden Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 5 to 6 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in the area. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1/8 inches of soil. You can also place 2 to 3 seeds every 3 to 4 inches in rows approximately 12 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1/8 inches of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Visit us at our website www.organic-heirloom-seeds.com New