Rhubarb

[FB.]

Yesterday I was able to harvest the first rhubarb from the veg plot.
No forcing, just natural.

I don't remember being able to harvest rhubarb this early before.

Variety is Timperley Early.

Rhubarb crumble in the oven at the moment.

I also have crocus and daffodils in flower in the garden and front courtyard. I don't remember them flowering from late-January before, either. Earliest I remember is maybe mid-February.

Fruit blossom buds are swelling, too. Nearby 'wild plums' (various types) have their first few flowers open.

Spring seems to be coming very early. Too early?

[veggiechicken]

Daffs and crocus flowering here - but that's normal for me.

The rhubarb is too short to pick yet. Haven't noticed a fruit blossom yet - but I haven't been looking!

[SarrissUK]

It's the same here - things are starting to grow far too soon. February can be absolutely arctic, so I hope flowers don't get frosted. My rhubarb is also putting on growth. I'm less worried about that, because I can protect it, but trees that are too big to be fleeced... yes I'm worried :/

[Bonjour]

Daffs just starting to open here. My rhubarb, which is not an early variety as such, is growing well. About a fortnight to first picking I'd say.

[ameno]

Daffodils are usually in flower by now here. Some very early ones are out in late December.

My new rhubarb (well, new to me. It came with the allotment) has been growing since early January, although it's still very small. My other rhubarb seems to be a late variety, as it never starts to grow until March, and as yet is showing no signs. It's a curse, really. I never get my first picking until the beginning of April at the very earliest.

The buds are noticeably swelling on my plums and my new apricot trees. I'm a bit worried, to be honest, as even if they avoid a frost, if they flower too early their won't be any insects to pollinate them, and I've never had much luck with hand pollination.
I bought two new apricots this year, both late flowering varieties, so I won't be happy if they end up flowering in February anyway, thanks to the weather.

[TrixC]

I reckon my apricots will be flowering within a week or two. Big cherry plum (I think) tree on the neighbouring allotment plot is already in flower and I’ve seen bumblebees in my garden! We haven’t had a single frost here yet.

[FB.]

I reckon my apricots will be flowering within a week or two. Big cherry plum (I think) tree on the neighbouring allotment plot is already in flower and I’ve seen bumblebees in my garden! We haven’t had a single frost here yet.

Yes, seen plenty of bumbles around recently on snowdrops and cyclamen.

Today I was out preparing the veg plot for this year.
When I came in OH and I discussed what and when we're thinking of planting.

Given the lack of frosts and unusually early arrival of spring we felt it might be a good idea to have a backup plan (e.g. staggered plantings, some seeds in pots on windowsills indoors) just in case there's some late hard frosts in March-April that kill everything (e.g. seedlings and potatoes).

[Chestnut]

Yes, spring seems further advanced here too. Rhubarb stalks 2-3” long, unforced. Daff leaves coming up , 4-5”. I am already feeling urges to sow, and noticing weeds progressing faster than they ought to at this time of year. Countyfile forecast said that might all change later this week, so watch this space!

[mrbadexample]

You have to love rhubarb. This is my Timperley Early, which I split into 4 and relocated just 2 weeks ago:



The Stockbridge Arrow won't be waking up for a bit yet:



I have a couple of crocuses, a few snowdrops and the daffs won't be long.



I do like spring.