Re: Larkspur/Delphiniums/Hollyhocks

Donna-

I am surely no expert but I can tell you what I have done with the above 
mentioned.....I purchase and plant all these guys in the fall.  The larkspur 
and delphinium will stay close to the ground...the hollyhocks will grow upto 
18" and do fine.  Three years back we had what we here in SE Texas call a 
hard winter --we had several nights in a row of below freezing temps several 
times during the winter ...these guys all faired fine.

Larkspur seeds--I've tried these both by just throwing in the garden and by 
putting in seed flats......the ones that I've thrown out have always (for me) 
been more vigorous, stronger, better blooming plants.  (a small note:  during 
my short gardening experience I've noticed that the larkspur do better after 
a colder winter...ours this year was mild and the larkspurs didn't even get 
18" high)

Delphiniums and Hollyhocks I've yet to be successful with seed....this year 
I'm going to plant the HH's in the ground this summer in a somewhat shady 
place and transplant them in late Sept/Oct--when ever the nights become a bit 
cooler.  And I'm currently collecting my Del. seeds and I will sow them in 
the garden in Sept/Oct. (same with foxgloves)....I too am relentless and will 
not give up, although I have adjusted my thinking that these three guys will 
always be like annuals in my garden and to be replaced every year.

This year (fall) I'm going to keep my seed sowing to a minimum so that I can 
concentrate better on the little guys and I would like to try some more 
difficult things.  This past spring I purchased seeds for Rehmannia, Chinese 
Foxgloves.....they are still quite small but am looking forward to seeing 
what may happen....the catalog does say they are for Zones 9-10 (T & M 
page134).

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9

P.S.  About the millions of seeds that haven't germinated for 
you....sometimes the seeds aren't viable and it isn't your fault--when I 
first started to buy seeds I was a bargain shopper and had poor 
results.....you really have to check the date on the seed packs.  If there 
isn't a date I don't buy them.

P.S.S.  Everything I've ever read about Hollyhocks tells me that they resent 
transplanting so you have to be very careful.

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