I live in a city where hollyhocks abound, even in sidewalk cracks. I cannot get them to grow. I have sown them in the fall. I have transplanted little seedlings in the spring. Some seedlings come up and grow a bit but do not thrive. Can you suggest anything which will help me grow these perfidious plants?
Sometimes "wild flower" that anybody can grow can be the hardest. This article should give you a few tips : https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/tips-on-hollyhocks-growing-hollyhocks-successfully.htm
If I take dried, crushed hollyhock flowers and mix them into the hummingbird nectar I make, would that be bad for hummingbirds? The flowers are purple and would make a good water color.
There are only two things that are absolutely safe to put in your hummingbird feeders: white sugar and water. Adding anything other than white sugar and water could put their health at risk.
Here is an article on how to attract hummingbirds to your garden:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/attracting-hummingbirds.htm
I sowed hollyhock roots in last week of April this year. When are they expected to sprout? I don't see anything coming out yet. I planted them in sunny location.
If you sowed seeds, then germination generally takes place within 14-21 days. Since it has been much longer than this, it could be that the seeds were either no good or they were planted too deep. Hollyhock seeds need only be sown no more than 1/4 inch deep.
However, if you actually planted a bare root hollyhock, these should be planted no more than 2 inches deep. They should be showing signs of growth by now, provided the ground temps have sufficiently warmed. I would give it another couple weeks or so, and maybe even a dose of fertilizer to give it a boost. If you still don't see any growth by then, it is probably safe to say that they're not going to.
What kind or brand of fungicide do you use for rust on hollyhocks? The bottom leaves always seem to get rust on them and it continues up the stalk.
Any fungicide available at a garden center or nursery will be adequate.
Follow the directions on the container.
Here is a great article.
I live in Iowa and have tiny worms eating my hollyhock leaves. What do you recommend to spray them with to kill them? Thank you.
You could try using Bt or neem oil to get rid of the worms. Here is more information:
https://extension.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm
I planted a hollyhock last spring, purchased from a local nursery. It is planted in a large wine barrel. The plant is healthy and looks happy, but again this year there are no blooms. Do these plants have to grow a couple of seasons before they bloom? It is planted in full sun and watered daily as we have high temps in the summer.
The soil may be lacking phosphorus, which is necessary for blooming. Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer or add bone meal to the soil around your plants and see of this helps.
I have these little hollyhocks that I just grew and I have 4 of these in my garden and I'm concerned that they will not survive the winter months.
In cooler regions like yours, hollyhocks are normally treated as annuals, though they can reseed and come back just fine. To be on the safe side, I would collect some seeds for replanting. For additional information on over wintering these plants, this article should help: http://voices.yahoo.com/how-winter-over-hollyhocks-garden-10365315.html