[ldavison10]

Hi,

A few quick questions!

1) Do melons need pollination by insects or are they happy in a greenhouse?

2) Do pumpkins need pollination by insects?

3) I bought some asparagus plants at weekend. I dont know if i bought one plant or 6! They are about 8" high fern like things and there are 6 stems or so coming out of the soil in one pot. Do i split these or is this one plant?

4) What depth do i plant rhubarb. Will it tolerate a formerly weedy area, and a covering of bark mulch?

Thanks

Lee

[DD.]

Hi Lee,

1) Melons need pollination by whatever means. It is usual to do them by hand to make sure. You can either use a fine paint brush to transfer pollen from the male to the female, or take the male flower off, peel back the petals and rub it on the female flower.

2) Yes!

3) This is probably one plant as one crown can throw up many spears.

4) Rhubarb is very tolerant. You plant it so that the top of the crown is just below the surface.

[woodburner]

Number 3 might alternatively be a pot of seedlings, I'd poke about gently to find out if all the spears are firmly linked, or just have entangled roots. If it's seedlings, you'll need to seperate them out at some point, or none of them will do well.