I harvest mine as soon as they have turned brown ( usually in August) and sow straight in to the ground. But if you sow in to seed compost and over winter indoors you may have a better/quicker result? The last picture looks like rust (some are more prone then others)I have one that is very rust prone but it still produces lovely abundant flowers. I gave up spraying for rust I just cut off the affected leaves. Also I think that last ones is far too dry against that wall, either water it much more or try moving it this autumn while you can still see it.

Both of mine have suffered with severe rust, and I have tried to keep on top of it.

So I take it that they should be light brown rather than black or dark brown as I was expecting.

I have included a new picture which shows how the seeds look.

Thats how my seeds look. Learn to live with the rust it does not stop the flowers. But I dont save seed from the rust prone ones.

They will have to do. They are the only ones I have.

I will harvest some and pass them on to my neighbour to give to her driver.

Thanks Denise.

I have finally cut the hollyhocks down. I was surprsied at just how thick the bottom of the main stem was.

Finally cleared some space.

Best to put it in the council green bin and not to put it in the compost as it has rust.

My Council don't have a green bin service. They just charge you per bag you put out. The charges have gone up a lot over the pat few years.

It will have to go to landfill I'm afraid.

Sorry Alex I thought everyone had that service. I fill mine every 2 weeks with all the stuff too tough to go in the compost.

No, we have to opt in and buy the bags and pay for every bag we put out.

That must be so costly.

It is. So I never use that service.

Exactly.