hollyhocks

blossom30

Hi I am trying to grow hollyhocks as I Just love the beautiful array of colour however this has proven to be more difficult than I thought something is eating the leaves and they are going pale yellow. Is it slugs I would appreciate any advice on how to bring them on cheers shrewdalx

foxgloves

I used to grow Hollyhocks and found the worst problems I had with it were slugs & snails, and hollyhock rust, but that is easy to spot because it's rusty-coloured spots on the leaves. Slugs & snails would leave holes in the leaves but wouldn't turn the leaves yellow. Yellowing leaves is normally to do with insufficient nutrients. Could you try something like that seaweed solution which comes in a brown plastic bottle? I've brought plants back practically form the dead with that.....or even a bit of dilute tomato feed might just give them as help if they have developed a nutrient deficiency. I agree with you though.....I love cottage style garden borders & love hollyhocks but my experiece of them is that they have been harder to grow than I expected.

splodger_seedswapper

i grow hollyhocks and i just leave them alone - and i don't really worry if something nibbles them - and i don't really mind the rustiness later on in the season either

i have found that they are quite a resilient plant - and as such i just let the plants do their own thing - they seem to cope well with neglect

Scotsbride

Slug pellets follow the directions on the packet you only need about a teaspoon per square meter
copper tape or ring work well too.
good luck

blossom30

Thanks so much for your advice will let you know how it goes shrewdalx