I’m usually disappointed with seed mixes. One of the main reasons I sprout my own plants from seed is so I can choose the flower colors. Okay, so I’m a bit of a control freak…
I used to be able to buy Hollyhock ‘Summer Carnival’ in individual colors, but in the last few years I’ve only been able to purchase them as a mix. ‘Summer Carnival’ is an awesome hollyhock. The plants are supposed to grow 5 to 6 feet tall, but in the past some of mine have reached 12 feet. I haven’t grown them for awhile because the Japanese Beetles were munching them to bits.
In a moment of weakness last winter, I purchased a ‘Summer Carnival’ seed mix. It was silly of me to think that the beetles wouldn’t be bad this year, and I never should have broken my “no seed mixes” rule.
I grew 6 plants. Two of them were ravaged so badly by baby bunnies in the spring that they never recovered. Three of the remaining four bloomed in early July. When they finally unfurled their blossoms what color did I get? Cream with a greenish tinge. Yuck!
The beetles were grateful for the snack, and I re-learned a valuable lesson. When it comes to color, don’t trust seed mixes!