Rose Mallow - Seeds

Life Cycle: Hardy annual.
Height: 24 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm).
Native: Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Asia, Australasia.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 10.
Flowers: summer to first frost. 
Flower Details: Pink/Rose
Foliage: Lobed. Palm-like. 
Sow Outside: Cover seed. Every two or three weeks from just before the last frost until mid-spring, and in early autumn in warm climates. Spacing 12 to 30 inches (30 to 75 cm).
Sow Inside: Use peat pots. Germination time: two to three weeks. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Seven or eight weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Moist soil. Average soil. Monthly feed. Regular watering. Deadhead. Propagate: cuttings in spring.

How to grow Mallow

When growing Mallow and other Lavatera outdoors as annuals it is best to sow them continuously from spring to early summer; this will create a continuous bloom of Mallow flowers. Once the sees are sown, simply cover them. Mallow likes to grow in a sunny part of the garden that has good drainage. For the best flowering the soil should not be moist and not too rich.

If planning to first grow Mallow indoors then they should be planted in peat pots, about 7 or 8 weeks before putting out in the garden (transplant Mallow from after the last frost of spring until the start of summer). They take two to three weeks to germinate at 21 degrees Centigrade. They should be spaced at 30 to 45cm (small Lavatera species) or 60 to 90cm apart (large varieties).

Caring for mallow in the garden

Once growing Mallow's should be watered regularly and dead flower heads removed. It is best to fertilize them with a low nitrogen feed. If you require more plants and don't want to let them self seed then take cuttings at the start of summer.