Rhubarb from seed?

[Snadger]

Just ordered some rhubarb seed from moreveg and wondered if anyone on the vine had had any success with it?

[stella]

I managed to get the seeds to germinate but they did not grow for very long. I think they got some sort of mould/virus and all died off.

[VirginVegGrower]

I tried a few years back. Mine rotted eventually. It's not easy that's for sure. Having said that, good luck. Shove them in a hot bed maybe?!?

[binley100]

I haven't but some of the others at the lottie got some crackin' plants from seed last year ......

[hamamelis]

Mine did OK for a while last year- they were doing fine until I went away and left my housemate looking after the plants for a few weeks. They were brown and crispy when I got back.

I'm trying them again this year...

[Thelma Sanders]

I grew mine from seed in 2010, had the odd few stalks off them last year, but they were really big before the tops died back............so I'm really looking forward to this year

[Snadger]

I realise destructions will be on the packet when i get em..............but do they need heat?

[Thelma Sanders]

from Suttons website

Culture: Sow March-April outdoors, and transplant to permanent positions during the following autumn/winter.

I sowed them in the cold frame in April

[VirginVegGrower]

I thought they needed a fair amount of heat to get going. Aren't you supposed to keep your hands off the bounty for a couple of years too, like asparagus? Allow the plant to build. What variety is it Snadger? If that's not too nosey...

[veggiechicken]

I sowed rhubarb "Glaskins Perpetual" last year (can't remember when), in a seed tray (no heat), potted them up individually and left then outside through the winter. Most of them are already shooting. No idea what happens next!

[VirginVegGrower]

Plant them surely? And don't eat from them yet!! Although I don't know for sure

[veggiechicken]

Plant them? They're minute! I'd lose them immediately. I'll let them grow on for a month or so and see what happens. Although I'm very fond of rhubarb, 50 or so plants is overkill!

[taff]

just sow as per normal end feb/march, avoiding frost if possible. Not that particular seed variety but in general, yes.

[VirginVegGrower]

Plant them? They're minute! I'd lose them immediately. I'll let them grow on for a month or so and see what happens. Although I'm very fond of rhubarb, 50 or so plants is overkill!

Not a year old then? Back end of last year I assume.

[Snadger]

I thought they needed a fair amount of heat to get going. Aren't you supposed to keep your hands off the bounty for a couple of years too, like asparagus? Allow the plant to build. What variety is it Snadger? If that's not too nosey...

Glaskins Perpetual, same as veggiechickens
Hope it is decent as there are so many different rhubarbs!

On my first plot i had a dwarf type which was pretty tasteless. On my present lot i inherited a wonderful type, large and tasty. Allotment neighbour killed it with weedkiller methinks, although I've managed to rescue a tiny shoot.

Hopefully this seed grown stuff will be virus free, full of vigour and tasty............we'll see!