If anyone grows hollyhocks from seed, have you had any issues with rust?
I was hesitant to buy a plant given the possibility of rust spores being in the plant so ordered some seeds to start indoors and then plant out. Will also direct sow some of the seeds to evaluate growth differences.

What, if any, rust issue did you have?

Thanks for the help.

Julia, there is a little discussion about rust in the Companion Planting Forum. Might be a tidbit of info you could use from there. Don't know.

The thread "Companion success stories" in Companion Planting forum

I have wintersowed hollyhocks from seed (wintersown) and the flowers were beautiful. But the foliage was butt ugly with rust and bugs. Bleh!

Karen

Yuck

kqcrna said:I have wintersowed hollyhocks from seed (wintersown) and the flowers were beautiful. But the foliage was butt ugly with rust and bugs. Bleh!

Karen

How disappointing. Were you growing a specific type? Double, single or ?

I can't swear to the type, but I think they might have been Charters mix.

If you google "hollyhock pests and diseases" you'll see that these things aren't uncommon.

Karen

I wintersowed and had great black blooms in the second season. Rust is a problem here.I dont grow them anymore.