Rhubarb help needed

[Jeanied]

1) Can you split them?

Yes - when they are mature - about 5 yrs old. In the dormant season between Dec and Feb - presumably before they start to grow again.

[gingerneil]

I cleared away some old bits and bobs from the corner of my patch yesterday, and found my main crown popping its head up. I'll be putting a mix of compost and rotted manure over the top in the next few days. I always get a bumper crop and even still have left in the freezer from the last picking in October!

[BUFFS]

to nerobot ,my rhubarb is starting to show and im just 20 miles south of you,we are by a river and 2 deg colder than irvine 4 miles away,yours wont be long,unless you are in a frost pocket.it seems to taste better after a hard winter,so im looking forward to mine (12 crowns..favouite in pies/crumbles etc).

[Torreya]

Being in a 'frost pocket', the only time I can split mine is either when they're just coming into bud (so I can see the best place to cut), or just before they die down. I've also had a lot of success with shop-bought seeds, especially Victoria. Worst I ever had was Wilko's Canadian Red which survived just a couple of months before giving up the ghost!