After 40 Years, Rhubarb Produces Seed Clusters

Q I have had a rhubarb plant for about 40 years, and each year I get several big bowls of sauce. This year, for the first time, the plant has a big round stem with several clusters of buds on top, which I figure will bloom. I am sure these will be seeds and, if so, was wondering what to do from here on. I would love to try planting some to see if they would make new plants. Do I let them go to seed on the stem and dry? A Since you already have a clump of rhubarb, I wouldn't waste the strength of the plant on producing seeds. You will be way ahead by dividing the clump next fall or winter. Discard the old center of the clump and keep the younger outer portions. That way you will probably get a dozen or more new plants from a 40-year-old clump. Pick out the seed head so it doesn't take away from the flavor and nutrition of the stocks you cut this year. (If you want to try to keep the seed, make sure it is pollinized, and cut and store the seed heads after they have begun to dry on the stocks. Keep them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.) Q I have a large cherry tree and a small plum tree on the south side of my back yard. Next door there are large shade trees, so part of the yard gets little sun. The moss has a great time in my lawn. I have tried moss killer and lime, but nothing seems to help. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the moss? A Moss grows because of four conditions: shade, acid soil, lack of fertilizer and solid compaction (hardpan or clay). Correct the conditions and the moss should go away. From your description you have at least two of the four conditions. One or two applications of lime seldom are enough to correct acid soil, and moss killer only kills moss but does not correct the soil condition, so the moss will come right back. Probably what you need to do is lime again (probably more then once), fertilize the lawn, remove some of the lower branches for better light exposure (providing it doesn't ruin the tree shape) and overseed the lawn with new seed to fill in spots where the moss has grown in the past.

Gardening by Ed Hume appears Thursday and Friday in the Scene section and Sunday in the Home/Real Estate section of The Times. He cannot respond to personal inquiries by mail but will answer questions of general interest in this column. Address questions to Ed Hume, c/o The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.