2 weeks Ago By Chanelle Georgina
Luke Dejahang, gardening expert and CEO of Crown Pavilions, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about guarding your vegetable patch.
Rhubarb is best planted in a sunny spot with well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. "Ensure that rhubarb plants receive regular watering, especially during dry periods, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to waterlogging," said Mr Dejahang. "Once established, rhubarb plants don’t require watering.
The roots will go deep into the ground to find moisture off their own backs." If you have a rhubarb variety that can soon be harvested, such as Raspberry Red – which crops from March to June – you will want to protect it against pests. In order to do so, it would have been best to plant rhubarb "alongside a pest-repelling plant, like garlic".
Additional barriers include physical barriers, such as netting and natural remedies. Mr Dejahang elaborated: "Use organic insecticidal soap or coffee grounds to deter pests. "These contain compounds that certain pests, like ants and slugs, find irritating, as well as giving soil a boost of nitrogen.
" Mr Dejahang said: "Avoid harvesting at all in the first season. Just mulch your plants, let them grow and establish themselves. "In the second season, 12 to 14 months after planting, start picking when the leaves have unfurled, and the stems are approximately 30cm long.
" Mr Dejahang added: "Harvest the stalks by gently twisting the stems and pulling from the base of the plant. "Never take more than half of the stems at a time as over-cropping will reduce the plant’s vigour." Rhubarb is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways for numerous dishes.
The vegetable can be used as a preserve, such as rhubarb jam or chutney, which is perfect for a snack. Rhubarb can be added to a meaty sauce for added flavour – it's great with pork chops and steak. Then rhubarb can also be the star ingredient in many desserts, such as rhubarb crumble, rhubarb pie, and rhubarb compote.
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