Rhubarb Problems

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Problems Growing Rhubarb

Flowering:

Some cultivars can be more prone than others.
Remove flower stalks as soon as they appear to prevent them weakening the crowns.
Flowering is usually worse after wet summers or where high nitrogen feed has been overused.

Thin, weak stems:

Lots of thin stems indicate the crown is losing vigour and needs to be divided (see ‘Propagation’).
Increased feeding may also help.

Split stems, sometimes exuding sticky sap:

This is sometimes caused by late frosts but is often an indication of erratic growth due to seasonal conditions.
Cool or dry periods followed by moist or mild weather means the hard outer growth splits when the new, rapid growth occurs.
Mulching and feeding may help to avoid the worst damage.

Green, poor quality stems:

Warm, dry summers can give rise to poorly-coloured, bad-tasting stalks.
Try to harvest earlier while the days are cooler and moister.

Slow or no growth:

Rhubarb will stop growing if the temperature rises above 32ºC (90ºF).
This can happen in hot summers.
Growth can also slow or stop if the plants are under drought stress so watering may help.

Category: Recipes

Rhubarb & Grenadine Crumble

Rhubarb & Grenadine Crumble
This has a great twist, the Grenadine adds great colour and taste to the rhubarb that will add that something special to your dessert!

Oca or Potato Homity Pie Recipe

Homity Pie

Homity pie is a traditional British open vegetable pie. The pastry case traditionally contains a filling of potatoes and an onion and leek mixture, which is then covered with cheese. It has a history that dates back to the efforts of the Land girls of the Second World War and the restrictions imposed by wartime rationing.

Classic Rhubarb Crumble

Classic Rhubarb Crumble
Growing up this was my favourite dessert & seeing as only my dad and I liked it I always had a massive portion!

Category: The Growing Season

Jobs to do in October

October is the month when it feels like the season is about to turn, the days start to shorten and the sun appears lower in the sky, the leaves change colour and fall to the ground and temperatures drop. The first frost are likely too, which will be the end of many of your crops out in the open so if you still haven’t harvested frost sensitive crops now is the time before Jack Frost gets them!

Jobs to do in March

Spring is starting and the new season is here

Hopefully by now we are now standing on the threshold of Spring and the new gardening season. The days are beginning to lengthen and although it may not feel like it at times the temperatures are slowly increasing day by day. More importantly the longer days are the real trigger to new growth and you will find that with the help of a little protection you can really go for those early sowings

Jobs to do in April

Spring should be here but watch out for frosts!

Sow seed outdoors
Vegetable growing really takes off this month. Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the first half of the month, maincrop potatoes in the second half. It's also time to sow seed outdoors in well-prepared soil.

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