Splitting very old rhubarb crown

[AntC]

In the corner of my new allotment there was an enormous rhubarb crown that, apparently, hadn't been harvested for years, just left to grow and rot down. There was a hefty amount of couch and bindweed growing in it so it needed dealing with when it was in a dormant state. So, I dug it up but it was so deeply rooted and the roots had spread under an adjoining path so that all the parts I could get out of the ground, none of them had anything other than roots the size of my forearm. I did find a couple that might come to something but they hardly had any small water absorbing roots attached and my question is, should I scrap them and buy new, or might they survive?

[mcdood]

Can you identify any parts that look like growing points? Plant with those upwards and you should get something. Also the stuff you removed from the outside of the crown will do better than the centre.

[nickdub]

As long as there are some live buds at the top near the surface it will survive - general advice is to cut a few chunks off near the outside edge of the main plant and put those back in the ground - no crop next year obviously.

If you have a big enough piece left you may be able to keep it in a bag and get a few early sticks off that for eating.

[Thelma Sanders]

They don't seem to make the small roots that other plants have, don't worry. Just plant a bit which has some longer roots and a bit of the top surface of the old plant.
I tend to dig up as big a lump of the old plant as possible, and then force a sharpened spade through from top to bottom cutting the lump into smaller pieces to replant elsewhere.

[AntC]

Thanks for the reassuring replies. Both bits I replanted certainly had some healthy buds on the top which made me wonder how dormant they are. I'll try and get some photos if it ever stops raining!

[Nicos]

Sounds good!
I used to think they were near enough impossible to kill...until I moved here
Just make sure the buds are raised just above soil level as they could rot.

One year I chopped up something like you had and chopped it into several pieces and they all grew, including the piece which had a tiny little bud which I'd left on the lottie in a bucket open to the elements...no soil, nothing! Even that grew!

[ESBkevin]

I dug out 5 very mature crowns when we first got out plot. I selected a couple of nice bits to replant three and chopped up the rest in a heap. A number of bits sprouted on the heap come spring, I couldn't give the stuff away. It did eventually break down into lovely compost, the worms loved it.

[Teds Mum]

I broke up a massive old rhubarb when I first got my plot too. Planted all the bits, about 12 I think, in hopes one would take. They all grew! I am still glad there are lots as the plants are smaller right now you can only harvest a few stalks from each.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

I found a huge rhubarb clump in a skip, took it home and chopped it into quarters.
All 4 grew and very healthy