Urgent warning issued to gardeners growing one particular vegetable in garden

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Gardeners with rhubarb in their plots have been issued a warning with advice not to harvest in the first season after planting.Most rhubarb varieties can be harvested from late April or May and will continue to thrive throughout the summer.

However, to allow the plants to establish a robust root system and properly settle in your garden, you should refrain from harvesting in the first season after planting.The initial year is vital for the rhubarb plant to develop underground.

Gardeners should only lightly harvest in the second season to avoid weakening the crowns, the Express reports.If you're keen for an early harvest of tender and pink rhubarb, you can use the 'forcing' method by covering the crowns in December or January with a layer of straw or bracken and cover over with an upturned bucket or dustbin in mid-winter to exclude light.

Gardeners who do this should ensure they do not pull the crowns for the rest of the season. The 'forcing' method helps produce sweeter, more tender stalks in around just four weeks.