Glaskin's Perpetual rhubarb - any advice?

[shirlthegirl43]

Younger son and I have just come back from the garden centre (it can be difficult living only 100 yards away) with a Glaskin's Perpetual rhubarb crown. It is a gorgeous plant and my other rhubarbs have not done well this year.

Everything I can find on the net about this variety says that it can be harvested from first year after sowing and I am wondering if I can take of a stalk or two as I plant or would it be better to leave it alone?

There are two growing bits (if that makes sense), should I split these now or leave until winter, or leave it in the pot for now? Don't want it to head the same way as my others seem to be going

[gojiberry]

I think you need to be a little patient with your rhubarb. I would plant it out ASAP into a well prepared bed and come back in two years time for your first picking. Remember that when you take a stalk off the plant you are weakening it so you need to make sure you have a really strong healthy plant to start with. Do you know how old the plant is. I have had a couple new plants this year and I have them in pots to start with and one has about 5 stalks on it but they are only small and I know the plant needs them more than I do.

Ian

[shirlthegirl43]

Not sure how old it is but it has huge leaves and 6 good thick, strong stalks with more forming. I guess you are right and I should wait till next year. Might just nick one or two later in the year as it is pickable up to September (if it settles well).