Rhubarb advice

[southern softie]

I planted some Rhubarb this Spring and although they didn't get going very well at the start, they are now huge. As this is their 1st year I was wondering if it was prudent to not harvest at all or can a take a few stick?

[leicestershirelass]

There's lots of rhubarb info here;

How to grow Rhubarb - all you need to know about growing Rhubarb

including

"Do not harvest the plant in the first year as the nutrients produced by the leaves should be channeled back into the roots to ensure a strong root system for stem production in the following years growth. In the second year harvest a couple of stalks per plant and after that you can harvest as normal."

[ktsj]

I have Rhubarb that i bought this year, i've left mine alone despite it now having a few nice big stalks because i was told to give it a year to settle in.

[rustylady]

Rhubarb is nicest when picked young in Spring, so you would really be better leaving it this year.

[southern softie]

Thanks for the advice. I will leave it well alone.

[ladylottie]

Lucky you! I've tried to grown rhubarb for two years running, and both times the shoots have started to come through, only to disappear. This year I covered the crown with a big plastic water bottle (thinking slugs might be the problem) and this worked for a while but then one day they'd gone again. Everyone says that rhubarb is the easiest thing to grow, but not for me it isn't
Any ideas?

[Storming Norman]

lady lottie,

Pretty odd this one - do you have very wet soil? Is it rotting?

Any special spoil issues that might slow it down? What happens if you dig it up - is it rotten?

I can send you a bit of mine to try later in the year if you want, it lasted 20 years before I had to dig and split due to raised soil levels and rotting issues.

You are planting it at the right level aren't you, and not too deep - that would cause this problem.

[rustylady]

Lucky you! I've tried to grown rhubarb for two years running, and both times the shoots have started to come through, only to disappear. This year I covered the crown with a big plastic water bottle (thinking slugs might be the problem) and this worked for a while but then one day they'd gone again. Everyone says that rhubarb is the easiest thing to grow, but not for me it isn't
Any ideas?

Don't cosset it. Rhubarb is hardy - after all they grow it in Yorkshire. Prepare the ground and plant the crown with the buds just below soil level. Don't cover - if you're worried about slugs use pellets, but slugs won't eat enough rhubarb to kill the plant. Sounds more like the crown is rotting - maybe too wet

[manda74]

i have been given a crown and its been planted now for about a month and i've got roughly 10 nice new leaves on it(about the size of side plates) and it looks nice and strong. My question is how long should i leave it before we start harvesting? should i leave it til next summer or will it be ok in spring?

[Filbert]

probably okay to take a few sticks in the spring but don't go mad in the first proper year.

[solway cropper]

I lost a crown a couple of years ago and put it down to waterlogging. The garden has a slight slope and the bottom gets a bit soggy after heavy rain and stays wet more or less through the winter. I planted another some way up and between two apple trees which soak up the water. That one is thriving.

[manda74]

thanks Filbert. I'll be sparing for a while then

[Sue]

My rhubarb is growing in the wetest part of the allotment, just two feet away on the path, the ground gets waterlogged after heavy winter rains. The jostaberry is right in this patch and seems to thrive.

I did put a huge amount of composted chicken pooh, old compost from potato bags etc on the area but at the moment six inches down it's still heavy damp clay so they don't appear to be too adverse to damp conditions.

Sue