The leaves of the hollyhock show you if the plant is doing well, if it needs water or maybe suffering from a fungus. They are even edible, not only the snails have discovered that.

Hollyhock leaves are edible

Can I use the leaves of my hollyhocks?

You can use the young leaves of your hollyhock as a salad addition. They are just as edible as all other parts of the plant. The taste is quite mild. Only use undamaged and healthy leaves in the kitchen. The flowers[, on the other hand, taste slightly sweet. They are often used for tea blends. The hollyhock is one of the old medicinal plants, it has a variety of effects.

Why are my hollyhock leaves spotted?

If your hollyhock leaves are spotted, then the plant is probably suffering from a disease and it's probably mallow rust. Yellow spots can be seen on the upper side of the leaf, on the underside these are reddish and raised, like small pustules. It is best to cut off affected leaves immediately and dispose of them with household waste. The fungal spores could survive in the compost and later infect other plants.

The best prevention against mallow rust is a sunny location, sufficient distance to the neighboring plant and good care. If your hollyhock has enough nutrients and water, then it is more resistant to diseases. Watering with compost or horsetail manure will help strengthen the plant.

Who is nibbling on the leaves of my hollyhocks?

Not only humans like the hollyhock, it is also very popular with snails. The hungry animals can affect young plants in particular to such an extent that their survival is endangered. The use of slug pellets (7.49€) can make sense here, but only if you don't have any pets to nibble on.

Even if small children are playing in your garden, you should be careful with slug pellets and other chemicals. Then evening collection may be the best method of pest control.

The essentials in brief:

  • tasty salad
  • very popular with snails
  • susceptible to mallow rust
  • first signs of mallow rust: yellow spots and reddish pustules

tips

Put the young leaves of your hollyhock in your salad.

Category:

Vegetable garden