SO sorry! Critters are such a bane. I love hollyhocks, but haven't grown them for a long time.

I personally would leave the pods on the plants to develop, then scatter where you want them. Good luck next year!

Appreciate the input. So if I need to leave the tall spike for the pods to develop? I wonder how long. I guess til they look shriveled and dried. You think so? Yes, that critter is a bane and a half!! Thanks again.

You are welcome! I think you could cut most of the top off leaving lower pods to ripen further. These may already be partially ripe, but I would leave them attached until they turn brown to be sure.

Very helpful -- thanks so much. Now all I have to do is figure out a way to keep this beast from eating the hollyhocks, as well as the chard and the tomatoes!! What a beast!!

I know -- the shotgun is a rough way to go - I don't personally have such in my arsenal. I have not tried the urine approach but it sounds feasible. When I get on my other pc, I will post pictures of the fort we built around our tomatoes and chard - he was quite fond of both. I moved to RI from Mass - we had rabbits, no deer and no woodchucks there. Here we have deer, w.c. rabbits, and chippies. They all seem to chew. Thanks for your input.

Here are the photos - Fort Tomato, Chard before protection, Chard box with protection