Grow Your Own Magazine

Since Hazel got me hooked on these beauties (ta Hazel!!) I'm growing loads of seedlings and reading up on them. The general feeling is to pull them up after 2 years, because they suffer from rust. Does anyone else here grow them? What do you do? and lastly can rust be treated?

Thanks
Tracy

Never heard that one before? They are a perennial and a dark purple one (almost black!) has been on my allotment plot for years. One of my fellow allotment holders has always admired it, so this year I said he could have it as I nead the space for something else!

PS Mines never had rust on it?

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Thats wonderful news Snadger- to be honest I've been reading US forums so I guess they treat plants differently to us.
I'll the kinda girl who can't dispose of thinned out seedlings, so to have to pull out hollyhocks would be the same. Oh, a black one-very nice I'm trying out Hazelonthehills mixed hollies as well as a raspberry one called creme de cassis. I'm hoping to havest loads of seeds for fellow grapes

I managed to get a few seedlings of this beauty but I read that they will probably flower in the second year... Patience

Patience is not a word in my vocabulary Seriously though, I don't mind the wait as I'm sure it'll be worth it (as long as I can fight off the snails in the meantime

Hollyhocks are biennials or short-lived perennials. They are extremely prone to rust (mine always suffer) so best grown as annuals.
I grow the 'black' one: Alcea Rosea Nigra http://im.edirectory.co.uk/p/1634/i/alceanigra.jpg

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I have some pink hollyhocks, can't remember their names they have been there that long. I just leave them to get on with it, And they grow taller than the trellis (6ft) every year. Whats rust ?
Enjoy

Rust: http://www.which.co.uk/files/applica...445-109024.pdf
Roses get rust too: Google Image Result for http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problem-solving/rose-rust/main.jpg
so do leeks: Google Image Result for http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1100/images/leekrust.jpg

__________________
~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Ships and bridges get it also!

__________________
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

sorry to butt in,can anyone give me any advice on sowing hollyhock seeds, i bought a packet of double apricot seeds from thompson and morgan but something has got spilt on the packet and i cant read the instuctions on when, how to sow, or after care ,growing on etc. Is it too late to sow these seeds now?

I have the same seeds flowerpot

Sow seeds at 15-20c on the surface of a good free draining damp seed compost. Cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator until after germination 14-21 days (it was 72 hours for me!). do not exclude light.

Thanks for the tips ands links. Two sheds perhaps I could tempt you (and othe hollyhock fans) with a seed swap at the end of the season ??

I gave away Black Hollyhock seeds last autumn - will do so again this year if someone reminds me!

__________________
~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

LOL! I'll remind you I've got a little collection going here, creme de cassis, icicle white, peaches and dreams and appleblossom- but no black ones. I tell you seeds are so addictive!

thanks for your advice, this is my first year growing anything from seed, and so far so good, will sow them tomoz, thankyou

Flowerpot, in my (albeit limited) experience, hollyhocks and lupins are the easiest seeds to germinate. If you have trouble with them lmk then I'll send you some of mine