Well you could grow them in pots, except they'd need to be deep - hollyhocks have the equivalent of a taproot. But if they're tall varieties, you'll be planting them at the back of the border anyway, where they can sit and grow on till next year when they'll flower.

The young plants will be quite small in their first year....in fact I sowed some hollyhock seeds about midsummer last year. They're overwintering in 3in pots. As soon as the weather improves I'll be planting them out in the garden and HOPEFULLY I'll have flowers this year :-)

I sowed mine in pots last summer and they are waiting to go in to their flowering positions. waiting for sleet/frost to go .

Sbg - every time I think I can get out in the garden and DO something, we get more 'weather'......woke up to MORE snow again this morning!!! lol

Thanks, I will just have to have a little patience