[Chicory]

Everyone seems to be coming along with their gardens!

I have a question. Last year I bought hollyhock plants and some critter ate the leaves, which meant the poor plants didn’t do well.

I planted some seeds in the hope that they would think a year had gone by by this summer and they would flower.

But I am afraid of the critter getting to them again.

Last year I put some mint sprigs around the seedlings and the critter did not eat them. Now I have some fresh mint sprigs from the store and a jar of dried mint—will that be enough?

Is there any other way of keeping them from being eaten, short of a physical barrier? (I can’t put in a barrier where they will be.)

Thanks so much!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Any of the store-bought repellents like ‘Critter Ridder’ work really well. You do have to be vigilant about re-spraying after it rains, or you’ve watered. Also, don’t get any on yourself or you’ll be repelling everyone around you, too! Don’t spray on a windy day!

You can also make your own mix. It’s just water, dish soap, garlic, hot peppers & raw egg. Recipes vary:

https://www.backyardfocus.com/homemade-rabbit-repellent/

Also, Hollyhocks are biennial, so they only bloom every OTHER year. People generally plant them two years running so by that third year you’ll have reliable blooms from then on. They can also readily self-seed, so be aware of that, too.