The message
from Steve Newport contains these words:

/prune/

Also, just for the hell of it I have planted 12 dwarf beans which did
well until quite recently in the open (snails got them in the end).
Will try to grow these in the green house (unheated) but don't know of
the lack of bees will mean these come to nothing.

You should always leave the greenhouse ventilated to some extent. Beans,
tomatoes etc would require a dryish atmosphere, and during the (sunny)
day you'd leave the door open, or at least one window/vent.

Cucumbers are another kettle of fish, but you don't want greenhouse
cucumbers to be pollinated anyway.

But I'd be surprised if beans did very well in a greenhouse, especially
at the height of summer.

What about starting a Rhubarb off - is that feasable from seed at this
time of year?

Yes. Sow the seed straight into those deep pots meant for trees, vines,
etc. Then feed mercilessly, and keep moist.

When you plant it out, never, but *NEVER* pull even a stick of it during
its first year.

If you want really good rhubarb, prepare the ground by digging a 3' to
4' pit at least 2' square.

Into the bottom, put bones, chicken carcases, old woollens, old
all-leather shoes, and work some of the spoil from the pit amongst it
all.

If you can get it, put a layer of fresh horse, pig or cow manure in,
mixed with some of the spoil, then mix *LOTS* of compost or well-rotted
manure with the rest of the spoil and replace it.

Plant your new crown on the top of the resulting mound and water it
liberally. Then water it some more. And some more.

The fresh manure will act as a hotbed and encourage growth (as if
rhubarb required any encouragement...).

You don't pull any the first year in order to permit the crown to become
properly established. Pulling any will weaken it. Don't pull any after
the gooseberries have finished.

If you look at

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/...n/rhubarb0.jpg

you'll see a stand which was put in eighteen months before the pic was
taken. Then, the crown was about the size of a large carrot or small
parsnip.

--
Rusty
horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk