Rhubarb

[HeyWayne]

Mother-in-law had ordered 5 rhubarb crowns for me late last year, and was told they'd be delivered some time in February - which I think is the right time to get them in the ground.

Anyway, they arrived on Saturday and I thought I'd better get them in the ground. Off I trotted to the local garden centre to pick up a bag of each, manure and compost (neither of mine are ready to use yet).

Dug myself a bed, removed about a tonne of bindweed roots and emptied the bag of manure on the bed. Dug it in to give it a good mix and then dug 5 deep holes about 8x8 inches. Placed a good couple of handfuls of compost at the bottom of each hole and then went to get the crowns out of the bag...

Now, the diagrams in the books at home clearly showed a "root" part of the crown and a "bud" part of the crown. When I looked at my crowns they just looked like sawn pieces of wood with a few leaves stuck on (a couple had a fairly clear bud, but I still wasn't sure).

I placed them in the way I thought was right, so I guess I'll see how they do.

I guess the fact they looked "sawn" was due lifting and seperating?

[Flummery]

Yep, the bra effect. Cross me heart.

[HeyWayne]

Yep, the bra effect. Cross me heart.

Aww c'mon ma, I need support here, not ridicule!

[Flummery]

Yes, support. Are we still talking bras?

Sawn off bit is where it's been split from the old crown. You should be able to see a reddish swelling which is the bud. Plant bud side up!

[HeyWayne]

Yes, support. Are we still talking bras?

Sawn off bit is where it's been split from the old crown. You should be able to see a reddish swelling which is the bud. Plant bud side up!

There were a couple like I say, that had bud-like appendages which I planted bud-up, but the remainder had no discernable top or bottom. I'm hoping they'll find the right way up if I've planted them squiffy.

[Snadger]

Pretty hardy stuff rhubarb.........I'm sure they'll be fine!

[rustylady]

Leaves at the top, Wayne!! Sawn bit is probably where the crown has been split, so is the root which goes at the bottom. Good luck.

[Glasshousevirgin]

Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Rhubarb...but honestly
Must say have been similarly frustrated by rhubarb crowns.
Bought one in a pot with leaves but by Winters end it had lost all the leaves and was given up for dead when I got a surprise in Spring when it resumed leaf.
Three crowns I got from garden centre were as you said little more than a vague sprout and woody looking. Do you think I could get more than a few leaves to appear on one all last season. I suspect the snail fest of last season just was too much for them but I haven't disturbed then (literature says they don't like it) and may yet be surprised again in Spring.
Good luck with yours m8.

[terrier]

Just leave them in a box of compost and lift them again in a few weeks, they should have buds on by then so you can see which way up to plant them.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm hoping they'll find the right way up if I've planted them squiffy.

Well, I generally do, so I guess that they'll be ok!

[HeyWayne]

I guess it'll be another case of my usual approach to growing veg - stick it in and hope!

[Flummery]

I reckon I plonk them in. Is that why people say I'm a plonker?

[piskieinboots]

and if they are upside down, I'll ask my client in Oz to keep an eye out for them and let you know you planted them wrong ways up

[Snadger]

I reckon I plonk them in. Is that why people say I'm a plonker?

Rodney flummery.............got a sort of a ring to it I suppose!