Rhubarb Problem

[Garvey]

I planted rhubarb for the first time last year. It was in a part shady plot with good soil conditions. The rhubarb thrived for a fortnight and then I noticed a stem had become seperated from the main plant. As time went on all the stems had come away. It appeared the stems had been atacked right at the stem base, soil level. Not sure if it was disease or insect?
Anyone else suffered a similar problem.

[Two_Sheds]

What time of year did this happen?

Rhubarb is herbaceous, so will naturally die back over winter ...

[Garvey]

Mid summer, so it had time to grow on before the on set of winter. I'm concerned the site was too shady

[Two_Sheds]

It doesn't mind a bit of shade, not too much though

[Two_Sheds]

Did the stems seem rotten? Did the crown rot? Over-watering? Planted too deep in wet soil?


It could have been slugs, but they don't normally eat rhubarb

[Garvey]

Yes Two Sheds the stems did look rotten and I was aware they needed to be well watered. I bet thats whats happened - thanks

[FoxHillGardener]

slugs eat my rhubarb

[Nicos]

slugs eat my rhubarb

You'll be needing some chooks then!

[MaureenHall]

chooks eat my rhubarb too if they get the chance! the leaves are poisonous though

[gojiberry]

You will find out if it is dead over the next few week as it should soon be showing some sign of life. Some of mine have just started to shoot but others are still looking dead.

Ian

[andrewo]

Was the rhubarb new? If it was an old crown it would have benefited from splitting. Rhubarb is pretty hardy and my worry is that you say the area is shaded, by what? This may be sucking the soil dry and you can water like crazy and nothing will happen. Stems splitting suggest two things, over watering and not enough water or energy in the crown. I would water once and then put down a thick mulch of manure.