Flowering rhubarb is a common site at this time of year. If the rhubarb flower is left on the plant, the root will be weakened & the stalks will be weak and thin.
rhubarb-flowering
Some people like to see rhubarb flowers in the garden.
rhubarb-flower
But if you are after rhubarb for the kitchen, the rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as the flower buds are seen.
flower-bud-rhubarb
To remove the flower stem:
- Hold the flowering-stalk close to the ground
- Pull upwards twisting the stalk
The tendency to bolting depends on:
- variety – Victoria is more prone to flowering than other varieties
- maturity – older plants are more likely to flower than younger ones
- weather – prolonged high temperatures and drought promote flowering
- nutrition – lack of nutrients makes the plant want to seed
To encourage leaf growth and discourage flowering of rhubarb:
* divide the crowns every 4-5 years to keep them young
* water during the harvesting period if in drought conditions
* feed with well rotted manure or fertiliser in early spring and autumn
* do not totally strip the root – always leave 4 or 5 stalks.
* stop pulling stalks after July, to allow the leaves to feed the root
* do not force each crown more than once every two years
* provide an open, sunny site in the vegetable garden
Although flowering rhubarb looks pretty, it is not good for the production of rhubarb to eat.
damson-blossom
Damson trees look spectacular when in blossom.
damson-tree-in-flower
The tree is covered with small, white flowers.
Click this link to buy a damson tree.
Damsons usually blossom in early April.
Plums are one of the first fruit trees to flower, bringing a welcome sign of spring, but watch out for the frost. The branches can be covered with light net curtains, or similar material, when frost is forecast.
victoria-blossom
The plum blossom is borne on bare branches before the leaves appear. They are particularly vulnerable to frosts :
- the flowers have no leaves to protect them
- the early blossoms appear when the nights are still cold
vic-plum-blossom
The frozen flower buds are badly damaged if the sun warms them up too quickly. So it is important to plant the plum trees:
- in a sheltered spot protected from frosts
- away from frost pockets
- where the sun will not reach before 9.30am on a March morning, giving the buds time to thaw out slowly
victoria-plum-flower
If the blossom is frost damaged, no plums will develop. Hopefully, we have not had any frost this year while the Victoria plum has been in flower, so we look forward to a good harvest!
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In spite of the drought, the peas look very well and are in flower.
flower-pea
These peas were planted late, in the last week of May.
semi-leafless pea plant
They are a semi-leafless pea, with lots of tendrils which wind round each other and help hold the plant up.
semi-leaflesspea-in-flower
Soon the flowers will develop into the pods full of tiny peas. They can be eaten early as mangetout (the whole pod), or we can wait for the peas inside to grow & eat them as peas.
The pea flower has to be fertilised to produce the pod, but most blooms self-pollinate while still in bud.
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The Midwinter broad beans are in flower.
flower-of-midwinter
The flowers are a deep purple.
Midwinter_bean-flower
The midwinter strain of broad bean was developed by Malcolm Allison. The plants are looking very strong and healthy, exhibiting their hybrid vigour.
strong-midwinter-beans
The bottom leaves of one plant appears to have rust, but so far it is not having any visible effects on the plant.
vigorous-midwinter-plants
Malcolm has warned that this strain of broad bean will not yield well. But we look forward to harvesting the purple Midwinter broad beans that will result from these flowers!
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Rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as they are seen.
- Hold the flowering-stalk close to the ground
- Pull upwards twisting the stalk
- Remove the flowering stalk to the compost heap
If the rhubarb flower is left on the plant, the root will be weakened & the stalks will be weak and thin.
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Rhubarb (Latin name – Rheum rhabarbarum) often sends up flowering shoots at this time of the year.
- rhubarb-flower
If the rhubarb flower is left on the plant, the root will be weakened & the stalks will be weak and thin.
So, the rhubarb flowers should be removed as soon as they are seen.
- Hold the flowering-stalk close to the ground
- Pull upwards twisting the stalk
rhubarb-patch-March
The tendency to bolting depends on:
- variety – Victoria is more prone to flowering than other varieties
- maturity – older plants are more likely to flower than younger ones
- weather – prolonged high temperatures and drought promote flowering
- nutrition – lack of nutrients makes the plant want to seed
To encourage leaf growth and discourage flowering of rhubarb:
* divide the crowns every 4-5 years to keep them young
* water during the harvesting period if in drought conditions
* feed with well rotted manure or fertiliser in early spring and autumn
* do not totally strip the root – always leave 4 or 5 stalks.
* stop pulling stalks after July, to allow the leaves to feed the root
* do not force each crown more than once every two years
* provide an open, sunny site in the vegetable garden
Although the rhubarb flower may add charm to the vegetable garden, it is not good for the production of rhubarb to eat.
Gloria Bonde grows beautiful scarlet runner beans every year in a window box with a curved trellis rustically made of dogwood twigs that curves over the window box window.
Gloria says “They are so easy to grow. They have a beautiful red bloom.”
runner-beans-in-flower
Beans are so attractive and both flowers & beans come in many shapes & sizes . The new midwinter broad bean has beautiful flowers in shades of pink & red and seeds that are red, or that turn purple at maturity.
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Bean flowers are beautiful and so variable. These photos show french bean, broad bean and scarlet runner bean flowers.
french-bean-flower
broad-bean-flowers
runner-bean-flowers
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The King Edward Potatoes are producing flowers now. Click the image to
enlarge it.
King-Edward-Flower
flower-potato-KingEdward
The flowers of the King Edward Potato are purple with white tipped petals.
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