Puccinia malvacearum (Hollyhock Rust) Control

[Durgan]

Puccinia malvacearum (Hollyhock Rust)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HRust 26 June 2006 Puccinia malvacearum (Hollyhock Rust) This fungus is easily identified.


Hollyhock Rust and Propane Burner.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PropaneB 12 May 2007 Propane Flame Device
This hollyhock rust caused by the fungus Puccinia malvacearum can result in serious injury to hollyhocks (AIthaea spp.) and is found nearly everywhere they are grown. Last fall about late October, I flamed my hollyhock plants and the immediate area surrounding. The plants are now about six inches high and there is absolutely no sign of the rust. This observation may be premature, but it is encouraging, since the rust devastated my hollyhocks last year. I tried fungicides to no avail. This flaming procedure does not kill the plant.

Following years I have had outbreaks of rust, but it is almost under control. There is none in 2009 so far.

[pat in east texas]

I plan to plant hollyhocks this year for flowers next year. Should I flame first, or wait till I see rust?

[Durgan]

I plan to plant hollyhocks this year for flowers next year. Should I flame first, or wait till I see rust?

Flaming can only be beneficial in my view. I saw a picture from the UK where a farmer was flaming a whole field using a tractor and flaming tank with burners. In the old days the stubble was burned off in fields, this certainly must have reduced the weed and bug population.