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What to do with rhubarb

• Message 1. 

  Posted by JG (U14314385) on Saturday, 12th November 2011

  Hi all. In a bit of a pickle - I love rhubarb and have struggled over the last 4 years (bearing in mind, it's supposed to be so easy to grow!) to grow anything that resembled something I could use. Then, this summer I decided to pull the sickly plant and start again. I obviously didn't pull the lot and suddenly I was seeing what I always wanted- a healthy plant with stems thicker then a pencil! Of course, this was post July, so bring good, left it as it was. Now November and it's sill massive and no sign of dieing back! Do I leave it or what? Will it grow next year if it is still blooming? Any advice appreciated.
  
  JG

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Saturday, 12th November 2011

  I think this is just another case of the weather we have had this year, the plants do not not know if they are coming or going.
  
  Personally I would just leave it to get on with things itself.
  
  I guess the next hard frost will put paid to the new/current growth and it will die back..
  
  When (and if) this happens clear away everything above ground level to prevent diseases and slugs & snails accumulating. and lay a liberal helping of well rotted compost over the crown/s.
  
  This link would have helped in normal seasons but this season has not been normal so your guess is as good as mine.
  
  
  
  Basically rhubarb is as hardy and easy to grow plant as you can get, so I would not worry unduly, things will sort itself out in due course.
  
  For example; my plants seem to thrive on neglect, generally all I have to do is clear away the dead growth and mulch and I get a good crop every year.

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  Posted by JG (U14314385) on Saturday, 12th November 2011

  Cheers Tee Gee.
  I'll take your advice and avoid the temptation to pick and eat it! I agree about the weather- my strawberry plants are still producing flowers after two episodes of fruit!!
  Next year's growth should prove interesting.
  
  JG

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 12th November 2011

  Leave it be then give it a generous dollop of garden compost or well rotted manure once it does die down and a generous handful or two of blood ish and bone or more manure next spring..
  
  Always remove flower stalks as soon as they appear as these weaken the plant. You want it to concentrate energy on strong roots for strong leaf stalks.
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by diggingdoris (U13981971) on Saturday, 19th November 2011

  If you lose your plant try this. I grew some from seed this year and couldn't believe how easy it was. Put the plants in the garden once they were about 6in. tall and they grew to enormous proportions by August. I was tempted to pull one stalk from each plant, but I left the rest to die back to put the goodness back into the crown. Can't wait for next year's crop, as you don't see it much in the shop these days do you?

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