Will the four oclocks still germinate in July or do I need to wait till next Spring
I think that it will be ok to plant them, now, in your area. They might not bloom until next year, though. Just be sure to nick the seed coat or soak in water before doing so.
This article will help you to grow the flower:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/four-oclocks/four-oclock-plants.htm
lower buds which haven't bloomed yet. Would I be able to hand pollinate them so that they produce seeds? If so, how do I do tha t since I wouldn't know which is the female vs the male flower? I keep the plants in a sunny corner shelf of the kitchen. The light comes in through a thin curtain. I move them to kitchen sink below if the afternoon sun gets too hot. I don't want to put them outside since any plant I've tried, except succulents, have gotten attacked or eaten by bugs. Thank you for any advice you can give me!
Four o'clocks are self-pollinating so all you need to do is ruffle them up a bit to help them along. The male and female parts are within each flower, so they don't need bees to transfer pollen.
https://extension.psu.edu/pollination-and-pollinators
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/Pollination%20Basics%20June%202019.docx.pdf
Can I plant my dormant 4oclock tubers in July in ohio or wait till spring
I would wait until spring to do so. I'm afraid that it would be too hot at this time. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/four-oclocks/four-oclock-plants.htm
This collection of articles will help, further:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/four-oclocks
I lived in a farmhouse where the former owner had planted numerous flowers and bushes. It was absolutely beautiful without us having to do very much! Anyway, there were four o'clocks that had the best aroma that you could smell from several feet away. I'm guessing they had been planted many, many years before we moved in. I have tried and tried, but I can't find any with the same aroma. Do you have any suggestions?
Have you tried seeds from heirloom seed companies? Or a seed savers exchange? Look at reviews that might mention aroma. I checked for some and they mentioned the colors but not the aroma. The article below mentions a white variety with an orange blossom scent.
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/four-oclocks-mirabilis-jalapa/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/four-oclocks/four-oclock-plants.htm