Rhubarb help please

[susiewoosie]

I have my rhubarb growing in raised beds (large containers really) and for some reason they have produced a flower stalk. I planted them last year and left them alone. This was going to be my first picking. Does this mean that they are no good. Should I pull them up?

Thanks for any advice.

[Two_Sheds]

No, just cut off the flower stalks as they appear. Rhubarb is a bladdy minded beast

[susiewoosie]

No, just cut off the flower stalks as they appear. Rhubarb is a bladdy minded beast

Thats a relief thanks. I thought I was going to have to go without it.

[always digging]

i make wine from my rhubarb very nice it is to

[Shadylane]

Ours flowered last year and again this year and so did everyone elses. I pull them off but others leave em and some heathens don't even harvest the stalks. Disgrace.

[Hazel at the Hill]

i make wine from my rhubarb very nice it is to

must be something in the Birmingham water - my rhubarb wine is the nicest that I make.

My rhubarb throws up flower stems at this time of year too - as the others have recommended, chop 'em off! I also don't harvest stems after the end of June (ish). Besides the fact that me and all neighbours, relatives and friends have gorged on beautiful pink stemmed, sweet rhubarb for two months already, the stalks get increasingly bitter, and then die back to (I think) suck the goodness back onto the crown for next year.

[ginger ninger]

My rhubarb grew like wild fire this year then stopped and started to die back, all the small leaf bud's went brown and when I felt them they were empty, nothing inside to burst out...any ideas what's going on with it? It was a crown a friend of mine gave me 2 years ago and this was going to be my first year picking 2 or 3 leaves . I hope I've not killed it