ON THE VEG PATCH

BOLTING RHUBARB

Rhubarb can get off to a good start earlier in the year and you may think you will be eating fat fleshy stems for months. But turn your back for a moment and the next thing you see is a bursting thick flower spike pushing up from the centre of the clump. Old plants are more prone to bolting than young ones and stress conditions, such as heat and drought, will push plants to flower. Keep beds shaded if possible and water well. Nip out any