Rhubarb

[Tomas]

I recently sent for some Rhubarb which I recieved O.K. I planted them in pots in the Greenhouse and they came up great and are looking great except one, and that one looks as if it is going to seed or there is a flower forming on it. Is it O.K. to keep ? Should I just leave it or should I cut off the flower? Thanks for any tips which would help

Thanks
Tomas.

[redser]

Just cut off the flowering stem. Seems to be happening a lot this year, seeing mention of it on other sites and one of mine did it. No need to get rid of the plant.

[wizzbang]

How tall should a rhubarb stem be before you pick it?
If it is growing away healthily and looks fab, when can you cut and eat it?
Some of the lovely red stalks are about 8 inches long already.
Yummy!
Lynne x

[johninblackpool]

Hi Lynne, If you go in the shops you see them about 18 inch long so anywhere between now and then, but i would think the taste will be best at about 12 inch long, i usually pick mine at about 12" and they taste great.
Unfortunately for me i split all mine last november and at the moment they are not doing so good, not had any yet, they are still only about 3" and as the weather has been so bad whenever a shoot started it froze then split, because of this they are only just starting to grow, i have my fingers crossed i don't loose them all to rot or anything because of the splitting.
Hope this Helps with the cutting size
John

[redser]

Don't they say that you shouldn't harvest any in the first year a crown is planted John? Might be best to leave them be to recover for a year. I think

[rustylady]

I recently sent for some Rhubarb which I recieved O.K. I planted them in pots in the Greenhouse and they came up great and are looking great except one, and that one looks as if it is going to seed or there is a flower forming on it. Is it O.K. to keep ? Should I just leave it or should I cut off the flower? Thanks for any tips which would help

Thanks
Tomas.

Cut off the flower and get your rhubarb plants outside. They are completely hardy and do not need to be in a greenhouse.

[rustylady]

Hi Lynne, If you go in the shops you see them about 18 inch long so anywhere between now and then, but i would think the taste will be best at about 12 inch long, i usually pick mine at about 12" and they taste great.

I think the 18" ones in the shops are probably forced.

[VirginVegGrower]

I have two his year that are flowering also and I have lopped off their flower buds. My usual stonker one is not looking great this year either. The others are fine. I am thinking weather...