Id-Code: AA 308
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: Turkey, Asia
Special Features: Deepest maroon color, appearing nearly black in color
Colour: Deepest maroon
Natural Flowering Period: May - October
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-9
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Round, lobed leaves
Height with Flower: 180 cm (70'')
Spacing between Plants: 60 cm (24'')
Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 6.8
Location: Full Sun
Use: Plant this extraordinary dark flowering hollyhock together in the border with Echinacea 'Rubinstern', Salvia sclarea 'Vatican White' and Panicum virgatum
Specialities: Tremendously popular old-fashioned perennial. Also available as JET^® seeds (AT 308)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 10
Seeds per Gram: 100
Seeding Recommendation: 25 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: These seeds must be covered with a layer seed kernel diameter. Keep daytime temperatures at approximately +20°C [68°F], and keep the moisture constant. The seeds must be kept in the light and moderately warm after germination.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Date: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 weeks!) at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)