The best hollyhocks I've ever seen grew out the crack where the tarmac of our school playground met the flint walls of the village school ... huge glorious and recurring for years and years. They never succumbed to bad attacks of rust either ... the school caretaker said that this was because fallen leaves were swept up (by him) and any spores were washed away by the rain. I've never seen any evidence to make me doubt his theory.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I bought 3 supermarket plugs on a whim in May as I've never tried Hollyhocks in this garden and I'd already planted my runner bean seedlings in the area which would have more accommodating space. (I've bought seed of a variety of singles to really have a go at them next year).
I planted this as a plug (it's a Chaters Double Apricot) mid-May as an experiment to see if there would be enough sun for it to grow - so it's in between the two Salvia Hot Lips as an experiment. It's over 4 foot now and whilst I'll be sowing preferred 'singles' for next years attempt, I haven't a clue if this Chaters is likely to reach flowering later in the year. From what I've read on your posts - I'm wondering what is likely to happen with this experimental plug this year. Is it likely to reach a flowering stage by autumn or will it just grow more foliage and gain more height? If it doesn't flower, am I supposed to chop it down to ground level at the end of the year and it will come up next year - or do I just leave it as is to do it's own thing? I'm wondering about it getting through the winter here in Edinburgh.
Sorry to butt in on this thread and spew out idiotic questions. As it's my first experience with hollyhocks I'm keen to learn from everyone else talking hollyhocks. I'm already eyeing up the seeds I bought and contemplating how best to get it right with when to sow seeds for next year. I don't have a greenhouse so I'll need to organise 'indoors'.
I have just noticed that my first ever hollyhock has its first bloom today - a gorgeous, very light pink. It looks healthy and unchomped, which is a bit of a triumph.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I planted this as a plug (it's a Chaters Double Apricot) mid-May as an experiment to see if there would be enough sun for it to grow - so it's in between the two Salvia Hot Lips as an experiment. It's over 4 foot now and whilst I'll be sowing preferred 'singles' for next years attempt, I haven't a clue if this Chaters is likely to reach flowering later in the year. From what I've read on your posts - I'm wondering what is likely to happen with this experimental plug this year. Is it likely to reach a flowering stage by autumn or will it just grow more foliage and gain more height? If it doesn't flower, am I supposed to chop it down to ground level at the end of the year and it will come up next year - or do I just leave it as is to do it's own thing? I'm wondering about it getting through the winter here in Edinburgh.
Sorry to butt in on this thread and spew out idiotic questions. As it's my first experience with hollyhocks I'm keen to learn from everyone else talking hollyhocks. I'm already eyeing up the seeds I bought and contemplating how best to get it right with when to sow seeds for next year. I don't have a greenhouse so I'll need to organise 'indoors'.