Rhubarb .. listening for a collective sigh..

[wizzbang]

Sorry its a rhubarb question folks.
BUT
You know I have inherited a big garden with a kitchen garden area, well there is a row of cold frames, big ones, about 8 of them. In two of them there are bright shiny red rhubarb leaves about to erupt from the soil. Now during the winter I think that the coldframes have only been covered occasionally and they certainly weren't covered a month ago. My son in law has mended the covers and put them in place, closed, over where the rhubarb is doing its thing. Shall I take the covers off now and let the rhubarb spring forth so to speak or shall I cover them up again and just let them have a but of fresh air now and again.
Im hoping for loads of responses because I want my rhubarb to be healthy and gigantic because I LOVE rhubarb. Also, shall I put a bit of compost around them because I suspect that they have been neglected even though they look extremely healthy.
PS im working on the pictures I promised.
If I have got pictures in an album on my computer do I just click on it and click copy and then paste into a post on here.... will that work?
Im not normally this much of a numpty with computers but its a brand new lappy with windows 8 (can I hear everybody booing? lol)
Lynne x

[VirginVegGrower]

Rhubarb doesn't need covering. Manure around its gills will feed it nicely though. Break open the custard

[wizzbang]

Thank you for that. My friend in Derbyshire grows hers outside and we grow it outside here in Lancashire too but this rhubarb has been grown in these coldframes for donkeys years by the looks of it by a 'proper' gardener (unlike me who is a novice) so I wonder why they had it under frames. Perhaps they used to cover the frames with black stuff to force it.
Whatever the reason I cant wait for it to be ready. Yummy!
Ill give it a bit of muck, make its day, just like its going to make mine soon!!
Ive found some smashing pics of the kitchen garden and the cold frames and greenhouse but not had any luck copying them. Ill have another fiddle with them..
Lynne x

[Linzy]

Hmmm i love rhubarb to i planted three in the front garden and my new allotment has got a whooping 7 plants on it which was a nice surprise. I never cover mine is really hardy so i dont bother. Just put abit f well rotted manure around it or some good home made compost and you will get some huge big healty stems yum yum yum

[Aberdeenplotter]

Lynne, it's no problem being a rhubarb question. Honest . Seriously though, rhubarb grows well enough under cover so as long as it has some moisture it should be ok. Rhubarb also grows well without light, in fact the commercial growers grow it in the dark to blanch it.


Now, lets address uploading your pics. I gave an explanation of how to do it in another thread. Wish I could remember which one because it worked fine for the uploadee.

In Fact, I'll do that on a separate thread

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...phs_70247.html

[Darwin.]

I love rhubarb, I planted 4 outside last year and I see they're sprouting up again now.

[roitelet]

If you up end a dustbim over one of the crowns you will force some nice champagne rhubarb. Pale pink and sweet. Then don't pull any from that crown after the forcing let it build up its strength and force a different one next year.

I read that Rhubarb needs a 'compost heap' over it. Last year I covered mine with rabbit cage cleanings and it did fine.

[wizzbang]

Do you think it would like some of my leaf mould or shall I give it a bit of that over ripe horse muck?
Lynne x

[Aberdeenplotter]

lolol, decisions eh. Either or a mixture would do no harm

[bearded bloke]

Where in Shropshire is all this rhubarb he asked while stirring a bowel of custard

[Aberdeenplotter]

never mind that, where is Shropshire?

[veggiechicken]

Where in Shropshire is all this rhubarb he asked while stirring a bowel of custard

That sounds quite revolting BB

[Aberdeenplotter]

reminds me of a dirty joke actually but not suitablefor here.

[bearded bloke]

Oi you lot stop taking the micheal over a simple smelling pistake

[bearded bloke]

never mind that, where is Shropshire?

Tis a green & pleasant land which abuts Welsh Wales,wot is where you went to visit a canal not that many years ago