Time for rhubarb and renovation in the garden

SPRING is just around the corner and our gardens know it. The weather may fool us yet, cold winds and frosts and even snow may hide the season from us, but all will be revealed given a mild and sunny day.

Rhubarb

In our vegetable plot the rhubarb has begun to make an appearance. The plants have been in the garden for almost two years and have begun to gather strength, so I am hoping for a really good crop this year.

When buying new rhubarb plants it is a good idea to choose the largest plants affordable. Then, with luck, there will only be a year to wait before harvesting can begin. Once established, rhubarb will grow almost anywhere, but it is a greedy plant and appreciates a thick mulch of good compost spread about the crown every spring and autumn.

Avoid covering emerging shoots in spring and apply when the soil is moist.

Rhubarb needs a decent soil that doesn’t dry out in summer, although frankly this has not been a problem for the past couple of summers, even in well-drained soil.

The danger time recently has been the very dry springs, so keep an eye out this month and douse the plants with plenty of water should we get a dry patch.

Rhubarb can be covered with a large container such as a bucket or plant pot to encourage an early crop. This is called forcing and can be done in late winter before the shoots begin to show.

However it is also possible to cover the new growth now, just as it is emerging. Before long there should be several long, pale pink stems to pick. Lift the container every week or so to check the growth and start harvesting before they reach the top of the pot.

Mulching

Other plants in the garden like a good mulch this month including soft fruit such as gooseberries and currants, roses and perennials. Mulching helps to keep in moisture, improve the soil and suppress annual weeds.

However, it will also improve the growth of perennial weeds which will thank you very much for the enriched growing conditions. So clear the ground thoroughly of the usual suspects before applying the compost around the crown or stems of the plants.

Renovating

March is a good month for renovating areas of the garden that have become tired or neglected. Be brave and dig out anything that hasn’t been doing well; there is nothing like a fresh start and early spring is a great time to do this. Allow time for clearing the area of weeds and digging in compost to give the new plants a good start.

Poorly performing perennials can be rejuvenated by digging up and dividing them. Fibrous-rooted plants can be divided with two forks placed back-to-back in the centre of the plant and prised apart. Thicker-rooted plants will need to be cut into sections with a sharp spade.

Either way the idea is to use the healthy growth that appears around the edge of the crown and dispose of the poor quality centre. Keep the sections fairly large and make sure each has a decent amount of roots and new top shoots or buds.

Weekend catch-up

It is time to sow sweet peas. These annual climbers are a good addition to the garden giving height, scent and a constant supply of cut flowers throughout the summer. The seeds are large and easy to handle, so can be put into individual pots from the start and left undisturbed to grow into strong plants.

As the roots like a long run, it is a good idea to use tall slim containers when sowing sweet peas; purpose-made ones can be bought, but cardboard tubes are just as good.

Household items such as clingfilm and greaseproof paper, toilet rolls and wrapping paper are all wrapped around suitable tubes.

Cut longer tubes into equal lengths and wedge into a container like an old ice cream or margarine pot. Stab a few drainage holes in the bottom first. Then fill the rolls with seed compost and put a seed in each, pushing it down so it is covered in a shallow layer of the compost.

Label, water and stand on a tray in a cool, bright room. The seeds will germinate reasonably quickly and can be grown on for a few weeks before planting out in April.

How to keep yourself supple in the garden

SPRING is almost here and we are looking forward to getting outside to start the digging and planting.

With this in mind, Mary Greene is running a gardening course next Saturday aimed at helping gardeners to look after their joints and muscles as they are put to work in that first flush of activity. Mary will show how Alexander technique can be applied to gardening as well as in the work place.

The course will be held at Brunswick Organic Nursery in Bishopthorpe and will run from 10am to 1pm with tea and coffee provided.

The cost is £15 per person. Places can be booked by phoning Mary on 01904 414793 or by email on mariaverdi@btopenworld.com

Gardening TV and radio

Tomorrow

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

9am, BBC Radio York, Mark Forrest. With gardening advice from Martin Fish, Nigel Harrison and Lizzie Tulip.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Chairman Eric Robson and panellists Matthew Biggs, Bob Flowerdew and Christine Walkden are in south Wales where they advise gardeners from Crickhowell.

Friday

3pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. This week the team are in Batley, West Yorkshire. With Chris Beardshaw, Matthew Biggs, Anne Swithinbank and chairman Eric Robson.

8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. The perennial programme is back with the first of a new series of visits to Monty Don’s garden. Monty reveals the changes that have taken place in the garden over winter, Carol Klein looks at snowdrops and Rachel de Thame visits a winter garden in Cambridge. Meanwhile, Joe Swift begins a four-part mini-series looking at simple planting designs starting with a cottage garden.