Re: Rust and Hollyhocks

Back in early June, Rust on Hollyhocks was dis-Cussed.  Bill and Harvey from 
SKID Plants posted the following message recommending spraying Chelated iron 
I've been hoping someone would have tried it by now and reported their 
results!!!
Barb
USDA Zone 5, Rock Island, IL
"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails & cleaner minds."  Will Rogers
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Re: hollyhocks/rust

•To: perennials@mallorn.com •Subject: Re: hollyhocks/rust •From: 
skid@bway.net •Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 02:35:30 -0500 •Content-Type: 
text/plain; charset="us-ascii" •Reply-To: perennials@mallorn.com •Sender: 
owner-perennials@mallorn.com 

 Below is from our FAQ (from rec.gardens posts) on rust and hollyhocks....It 
works: 
  
 We don't know if this is considered 'organic' but we believe it to be 
COMPLETELY SAFE and harmless to life on this planet, except, of course, for 
rust! 
  
 Second:  Our evidence is anecdotal, and reinforced by knowledgeable 
'experts' who we consulted.  We have never read anywhere that this does  work 
(so we can't cite references),  and can't tell you why it works......and if 
you are familiar with our 
 posts, you know we always demand that others back up their statements with 
facts. 
  
 With that stated ...(aren't you excited?)...here goes: 
  
 Spray the plants with a weak solution of Chelated iron, about once a week, 
all summer long.  We followed the manufacturer's instructions.  We got a 
quart container from Home Depot, rather cheaply (a lifetime supply).  It was 
prepared for use on lawns (and is a concentrate).  The dilution was something 
like 2TBS/gallon of water.  One is supposed to spray it when the plants are 
not in full sun, and until the liquid runs off the leaves.  The only caution 
was that it would stain concrete a rust color.  We did not see any staining 
in the garden or on our hands (we were not near any concrete). 
  
 It has the added advantage of repairing the yellowing of leaves caused by 
drought conditions (as we experienced last summer as well).  The reason that 
works (we were told) is because during droughts, the iron in the soil gets 
'bound up' chemically and the roots can't draw it from the soil......hence 
classic 'chlorotic' leaves (the giveaway symptom is that the leaf gets sickly 
yellow, but the veins stay greener). 
  
 We have read that rust and hollyhocks go hand in hand, and to just accept 
it.  That the plants will do OK despite the problem.  Last summer, we gave 
some seedlings (which had grown to bushel size in 2 gal pots) of the single 
black hollyhocks to a rather distinguished garden designer friend of ours in 
upstate NY....When he saw them, he exclaimed how beautiful they were.  When I 
started to babble how we grew and fed them, he stopped me and said,  "Oh yes, 
they are well grown alright, but look!, no rust!"  When we told him about the 
Chelated iron, he said, well of course!  (see, experts, anecdotal 
evidence........but as we've said about other's remedies: 
 .....and it also kept the elephants away!). 
  
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>end of FAQ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
  
 After posting the above, last year on rec.gardens, we got reports from all 
areas of the US that it does, in fact, work on preventing rust from forming.  
It does not get rid of already formed rust, but it will stop the spread once 
an outbreak occurs. 
  
 Bill & Harvey 
 SKID Plants  Zone 6  CT  USA 
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