Holyhocks

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Kipwad, Oct 7, 2008.

  1. Kipwad

    Kipwad Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi all
    I have grown Hollyhocks for the first time this year and had a good show. The flowers are now coming to an end and I could use some good advice as to pruning etc. Thanks in advance
     
  2. Kandy

    Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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    Hi Kipwad and welcome to the forum:) I like growing Hollyhocks and think they look quiet pretty in the cottage garden:)

    If you havn't done so already you can collect the flatish seed pods on a dry day and and then gently remove the seeds if they have gone a black colour.The seeds look like a filled in horse shoe shape.Dry these off on a pice of paper somewhere warm and then either sow them now to grow on through the winter or else keep them somewhere dry in a paper bag for sowing in the spring.They are Biennials which means that whenever you sow them they will spend the first year making roots and leaves before sending up a flower spike the following year but you might be lucky in getting them to flower earlier.

    This time of the year I cut off the old flower stem down to the base of the plant and pick off and destroy any leaves that are showing signs of rust which will show it's self on the underneath of the leaves.Keep an eye on the plants throughout the growing season as rust can becomequiet a problem throughout the year and after a few years your plants will probably start to give up the ghost so hopefully by then you will have some more plants coming along.

    It would be a good idea to give the plants a feed in the spring when they are starting to grow with a general fertiliser so that they give a good display....Good Luck and do let us know how you get on with them:)
     
  3. crofthouse

    crofthouse Gardener

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    I love hollyhocks, and have just been busy planting out a load of new plants grown from seed this year. My only worry is that we get so many bad winds here they may take a battering, so have tried to plant them where they will have a bit of shelter. Looking forward to seeing them in bloom!

    Anthony
     
  4. Kipwad

    Kipwad Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi Candyfloss

    Thanks for the advice, we apprentices need all the help we can get
    Cheers
     
  5. redstar

    redstar Total Gardener

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    Love Hollyhocks, was able to run across some black hollyhock seeds from Thomas Jefferson Gardens years ago, they lasted for me about 3 years, did well.
     
  6. Kandy

    Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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    Here are some of the colours that I have.Hope you enjoy them...
    [​IMG]
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    This one if I am right is the plant that is shown above in the label...
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Paladin

    Paladin Gardening...A work of Heart

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    That last one looks a nice bloom Kandy..how long does it stay true ,or does it ever?
     
  8. Kandy

    Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

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    Hi Pal,I am not sure how long it will stay true as I only bought it in the Spring so it is the first year of flowering.It is going to be a question of seeing how it and the couple of others that I bought grow.:)
     
  9. takemore02withit

    takemore02withit Gardener

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    I find I have to replace mine nearly every year due to rust. Even so they are well worth having in your garden.They are spectacular. 02
     
  10. Banana Man

    Banana Man You're Growing On Me ...

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    I tend to leave them seed then prune the stem back to the clump level.
     
  11. roders

    roders Total Gardener

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    :) Here is a very nice Hollyhock..............
    A wild one from Portugal......Grown from seed curtesy of LoL.
    I can't realy see any difference to our standard Hollyhock.
    Just love the colour :)


    [​IMG]
     
  12. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    :) Nice to see that roders as I was not successful with the seed myself. :( Beautiful colour, I prefer the dark ones.

    As it was truly wild and in the middle of nowhere, I had no idea what the colour would be .... nice pic against the plume .... pampas grass? :thumb:
     
  13. cajary

    cajary Gardener

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    I've found that "Antwerp Mixed" is resistant to rust.
     

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