But I'm back in the groove and made a good start clearing Section 1 at the very top of the hill. It has the lightest soil, fewest weeds and is closest to the manure heap. I'd hoped to finish it and get some manure in but didn't manage it.
Still, the rhubarb is roaring away. I think it's Timperley Early. It's also beginning to grow it's own Triffid.
I've never seen a flower spike as big as this quite so early; that probably means it needs splitting up in the autumn. Crikey; even more rhubarb!And things are flowering. Look at this Plum.
I'm due a big crop this year because last year was a 'resting' year for the tree. The Blackthorn has almost finished flowering now and I'm hopeful of more than the 8 sloes I had from it last year. The Cherry hasn't started yet but the buds are positively fecund. And I'm very pleased with the wallflowers, 
which have survived a real bashing & crushing by the snow.
10 comments:
Didn't go to one of my plots for a week and now the ground elder is about 6 inches tall. Including that under the weed fabric :>(
I thought rhubarb flowered when it was 'stressed', so presumably down to a lack of water at the moment? I've been giving mine plenty these last couple of weeks - as soon as I saw them starting to produce flower shoots. Also I took the flower shoots off to stop it putting its energy into producing seed rather than stalks.
Hmm, that's a good thought. I've cut the flower spike off so let's see if that stresses it even more!
Our rhubarb flowers too and has done each year.
We too had a poor plum and greengage year last year - just hope the frost leaves all the blossom alone this year.
Our rhubarb is already enormous! but best of all my globe artichokes have returned! I'm not really the gardener alan is, so doubly proud. ThaNKS FOR A GREAT POST.
Thanks Gerry, much appreciated.
Living where you do, are you familiar with the story of Thomas Nuttall, late of Nutgrove Hall (late in September 1859 that is!)?
I had a flower spike on my rhubarb in it's 2nd year which I hacked off, put it down to neglect and lack of water in the dry spring. Not seen one yet this year yet.
Ooooh! Fab piccies! Thankyou for your comments on my blog :-) I'd like some rhubarb too but I think it'll be a while before my little sticky bit looks anything like proper rhubarb :-) Mel xx
Hi Woody, things can soon get out of control at this time of year can't they. Things have really come on fast in just the last week.
I split and transplanted my rhubarb last year and the two I kept have now got enormous flower shoots on them.......I'm off to chop 'em off and throw some water on the plants!
I'm confused about rhubarb flowers - most of the plants on the plot seem to be in flower, but I read elsewhere that this is a sign of stress and that the flower spikes need to be removed or you lose the clump. But other people up at our site say their rhubarb flowers every year - and some of the clumps are VERY triffid like! Colour me confused... Must get some wallflower seed and use part of my plot as a seed bed for that, honesty and hesperis. There must be room somewhere...
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