Alert issued to anyone growing rhubarb and apples in their garden

February may be dire when it comes to weather, but it can also be a fruitful month for certain plants.

In fact, February is said to be an excellent month for starting certain seeds as it allows enough time for the seedlings to grow.

By following the correct precautions, you can ensure a good spring harvest when the weather begins to improve.

This is particularly pertinent when it comes to growing rhubarb or apples in your garden.

Experts at B&Q offer their top tips for anyone wanting to grow rhubarb and apples in their garden, which include: 

• Cut back your autumn fruiting raspberry canes to the ground.
• Prune dormant apple and pear trees.
• Force rhubarb by firstly removing any old leaves and then covering the crown with a pot. Insulate the area with bubble wrap or straw.
• Net your fruit and vegetable crops to keep the birds off.

When it comes to rhubarb, digging a well-rotted manure or compost before planting is essential.

Gardening experts advise leaving 75cm between plants with rhubarb crowns being planted to ensure that the top of the crown is just above the surface of the soil.

When it comes to apples, the advice is to dig in lots of well-rotted manure or garden compost before planting.

Other advice for planting apples includes positioning the tree in its hole and ensuring that the bulge on the graft point is just above soil level.

Companion plants in your gardens for rhubarb include cabbages, strawberries and beans.

Plants not advisable to be grown near rhubarbs include squash or pumpkins as the rhubarb leaves overshadow the gourds and pumpkin vines which will suffocate the rhubarb plants. 

However, a variety of plants can be grown with apple trees which attract beneficial insects, repel pests and improve soil health.

These plants include lavender, chives, garlic, basil and dogwood.