Rhubarb

[susiewoosie]

I'm growing rhubarb for the first time and I'm not really sure what to do. I found out that I shouldn't take any rhubarb the first year but what do I do with the stalks that are growing? Do I just leave them to die back or do I need to cut them at sometime?

[Jeanied]

Hi SW - I'm no the world's best at rhubarb but I really cosseted mine for the first year and didn't pick any at all - just top dressed with well rotted manure. This year it has done really well and now it is beginning to die down, it will get a good bucketful of compost over the crown (but we have pretty mild winters here) and the leaves will get put in the compost when they die back just to tidy the place up. You may want to protect the crown a bit more as you are much further north. Then the second year only pull a bit - and stop round the end of June. Mine is now well established and I'm not sure what variety it was but it was tender to use well into August. Mine gets very dry though, so I have to keep on watering. (Yesterday the whole patch was like a dust bowl). Hope this is helps - but other grapes may have much wiser words to add!

[susiewoosie]

Thanks Jeanie. It was really hard not to pick any this year. Everytime I went into the garden it was shout rhubarb crumble, rhubarb crumble lol.

[sarraceniac]

It is pretty hardy stuff. I just let my (more mature) crown die down after my last picking in July then tidy it up when the leaves are finished. A darn good dose of general fertiliser in spring is a good idea. If you want to force it then wait at least 3 years and then only force every third year. As Jeanied says, loads of water in spring and summer, they are very thirsty.

[Flummery]

Let the leaves die down. They sort of make a natural mulch. Pick in spring and summer next year but again, let the leaves feed the crown in autumn.

[susiewoosie]

Thanks guys. It doesn't show any sign of dieing down at the moment. Should I be worried about that or should I just wait?

[BUFFS]

we are just down the road from you,so put a topdressing of compost onto the crown and cover that with leafmould/barkchips, and do not pull any stems first year,next year just pull a few stems at a time,and none after august,when it will be time to feed it again,you can then crop it properly.after about four years ,lift the crown in autumn/winter,and split it,replant and feed again.apart from splitting,they are virtually carefree.so just enjoy the taste and years of it.a dose of chicken pellets in the spring will always help(we do get a bit of rain now and again round here,which tends to wash away what is put on in autumn)

[bobleponge]

As has been said above, let them die down, and dont worry if it isnt just yet, it will.
Once its all died back, chuck manure over it, then leave it till spring, when you'll start to see the leaves coming back again.
'Tis very hardy stuff, so I shouldnt worry too much, you will hear many stories of people doing sweet nothing at all with/to their rhubarb and it grows year after year.

[susiewoosie]

Thanks Bob n Buffs. Mine is in a raised bed do I still need to split it?

[sarraceniac]

Thanks Bob n Buffs. Mine is in a raised bed do I still need to split it?

Don't worry at all. A raised bed is just the same as the ground but more convenient.

You don't have to split it ever. But if you want it at it's most productive then every few years it should be split to rejuvenate it. If you ever want forced rhubarb (miles better than the naturally grown) then because you can only force every few years (it tires the plant out) then you do need several crowns for a steady supply. But my father ran his rhubarb for about 15 years with just the odd bucket of manure (we did try to get him to call it fertiliser but it took 30 years to get him to call it manure). There was always enough for our family of four when I was a child and teenager

[bobleponge]

As Sarraceniac says, no difference, but just make sure you water if you have dry spells, as rhubarb can be quite thirsy, and raised beds do tend to dry out quicker than the surrounding soil.

[Flummery]

Mines' not offering to die down yet either. Don't worry. It'll be fine.

[susiewoosie]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm looking forward to lots of rhubarb next year. Oooh Rhubarb crumble.

[jojo2910]

More rhubarb advice please

Hi,

My partner and I really want to get some Rhubarb. When is the best time of year to buy and from where? Mail order or garden centre?

Thanks in advance.

[bobleponge]

Jojo, I was given mine by a friend, as are a lot of people I expect.
If you know anyone who gardens or has a lottie, see if you can persuade them to split a crown and give it to you.
Cant offer any advice re purchase as never bought any.