Favourite Rhubarb?

[Ryleh]

So, when I took my allotment over I inherited a rhubarb plant, well rhubarb patch would be more accurate. I had excellent yields this year and enjoyed a good few crumbles. Only wish I'd been ale to resist eating it all and saved some for freezing for later!

Now, I'm sure the previous plot holder had a reason for putting the rhubarb patch where they did but I'm planning on having it elsewhere in the long term and partly due to paranoia I'm not wanting to consider dividing or transplanting the current plants without a back up plan in place in case everything goes wrong.

So my back up plan is to start a new bed this autumn from new crowns that I'm going to purchase. This coming year I'll leave the established bed where it is and not harvest from the new plants so as to let them settle in properly.

Granted in 2 years time I'll be rolling in Rhubarb but that's a situation I'm very happy with

So, quite a long explanation for a fairly straight forward question: What varieties do people favour?

I've been looking at and considering:
Stockbridge Arrow
Goliath
Victoria
Champagne

I dont know what variety the existing plants are but my suspicion based on stem colour and habit is that its Victoria.

[sparrow100]

I have Hawks Champagne, Fulton's Strawberry, Glaskins Perpetual (from seed), Timperley Early and Champagne. Glaskins was grown from seed this year and is already well established, likewise Timperley Early, which is a monster for a first year crown. Champagne is lovely, with very red stems, and the Hawks Champagne has a beautiful flavour and copes happily with being in part-shade. Fultons Strawberry is a feeble thing and will be composted if it doesn't buck up soon.

[sparrow100]

As you can see, I also want to be rolling in rhubarb!

[veggiechicken]

Bit of a rhubarb nutter here too Most of mine are unknown varieties but..........

Raspberry Red, bought for 10p each in a DIY store end of season sale. Looked like shrivelled bits of twig but they all bounced back and should be pickable next year.
Victoria - from little plants sold at the local shop - 3 for £1.
Livingstone - the autumn cropping rhubarb - looking good for next year.

Can't tell you much about flavour as all the above have only been picked lightly this year. I'd recommend Livingstone if you want to extend your cropping season. http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...arb_67862.html

[veggiechicken]

Just found The longest cropping rhubarb Poulton's Pride plants from DT Brown Seeds
Cropping for 10 months of the year

[sparrow100]

My Livingstone died within weeks of going in the ground. Was so disappointed.

I've got seeds for Victoria and Glaskins Perpetual which I used this year. Don't need them anymore, so they will be appearing in the VSP by Christmas if you want to have a go at them.

[veggiechicken]

I bought 3 Livingstone plants. One is huge, the other 2 are teeny. You can see one to the right of the biggun.



Just picked this - first pick from that plant



PS Rhubarb seeds always welcome in the VSP. I have some somewhere too - may have to have a rhubarb sow-fest next year

[Ryleh]

Well I'm planning on this next year being a big rhubarb year for me in terms of getting new plants in so having a go from seed definitely appeals.

A variety that crops early or late (or getting both!!) definitely appeals too so I'll have to look into those

[Invicta]

Favourite rhubarb

I have Timperly Early, Raspberry Red and Glaskeens. Timperly and Raspberry are both excellent and similar in flavour. I have not been impressed by Glaskeens and am considering throwimg it out.

[Filbert]

Pink champagne is lovely and sweet, even later in the season when some other varieties taste very earthy.

[boatsman]

You lucky people! I have grown rhubarb in the past few years in my small garden but have never had much luck. I'm going to try again only this time from seed. Is there a strain that's almost foolproof to grow, and if so where can I buy seeds?

[DuncanM]

I inherited it in my plot and although growing up with it as a crumble I much prefer to use it to flavour vodka now, it's fantastic

[ldsau93]

For those with a glut, don't forget that Rhubarb wine is a cinch and can taste delicious. You'll need 1.5-2kg which isn't that much in Rhubarb terms. There are many recipes available so won't repeat here in case I miss out a crucial step (!) but the equipment and ingredient needed (demijohn, tubing etc) don't cost much and would last for many more batches.

[waterfall]

Just found The longest cropping rhubarb Poulton's Pride plants from DT Brown Seeds
Cropping for 10 months of the year

Planted three plugs of this variety in April this year and have enjoyed good pickings until last week. Will leave them to recover buried in compost for next year's crop. Good flavour but not exceptional.

[Ryleh]

So for one bed I went with 3 Livingstone plants which will hopefully be getting planted tomorrow.

I've got a second bed ready which will be home to 3 Stocksbridge arrow plants. Went for this partly because of reviews but also because it's a Yorkshire bred variety so I hope it will do well up here.

Lastly I'm going to put a couple of Goliath plants into a space that isn't being utilised at present. This by all accounts is a plant that had huge yields but we will see.

The Stocksbridge and Goliath plants won't be ready to go in until about November but I'm already looking forward to seeing how it all goes.

I'm also still fancying giving some a go from seed