What are the odds?

[HeyWayne]

5-1?

Planted 5 Pink Champagne Rhubarb crowns a few years ago (maybe two) and it would appear I'm now down to one.

Of the five planted, only two seemed to come to anything.

I had a crop from both plants last year and left the last ten or so stalks at the end of teh season as the plant died off and went dormant.

Managed to get to the plot on Sunday briefly (if for mothing more than a quick look around) and noticed that only one plant is now growing. The other one is just a hollow brown 'stump'.

For a plant that's supposed to be easy to grow it's proving not to be!

[chris]

DOn't say that! I just went and bought some Victoria ! Well, only 1 crown, so I hope it is easy to grow

[Florence Fennel]

Did you put a load of manure on it Wayne? Before you say it, I like custard on mine.

[HeyWayne]

Did you put a load of manure on it Wayne? Before you say it, I like custard on mine.

No, I didn't have any.

[Nicos]

None of mine have so far survived from last year- nor the year before.

I'd put loads of muck in the base too ( and none of that toxic stuff either!)
All rotted!

The 2 I gave to other peeps are looking fantastic!!

I've brought 2 more from the lottie in my final attempt at growing- and just bunged them in near the compost- sort of in the shade of full afternoon sun.
No feed- nothing.
Almost last attempt really ( at least I didn't pay for them!!)

[piskieinboots]

I've just made a yummy rhubarb and ginger creme brulee

[Florence Fennel]

Pass us a bit Piskie, that sounds delish.

[Two_Sheds]

I planted a Canadian Red last week, and now I can't find it. So I got a Victoria and popped that in.

I expect they'll both grow like monsters now and I'll be over-run

[basketcase]

Perhaps the trick is not to like it.

Can't stand it and mine (inherited, I hasten to add!) survived despite being strangled by ground elder, neglect, me digging it up and rotavation!

Couldn't get rid of the darn stuff

[Bigmallly]

I transplanted an old one in october but it died. I bought 2 crowns & 1 of them had died. Guess I'm just unlucky with rhubarb.

[gojiberry]

Make sure the ground is free draining because although they like a moist ground they don't like to be sat in water. Also when planting make sure the crown is above ground level if necessary plant on a bit of a mound. Give frost protection in the first year by covering with some straw or a bottomless upturned bucket.

Ian

[Paulottie]

Excellent advice again Ian

Usually they rot...don't plant too deep. I think variety may have a bearing too. I brought one crown 10 years ago...never been any good short stemmed not productive...neverunderstood why I didn't just burn it.

On the other hand there was a patch on a long abandonned lottie a few years back that had been ploughed, weedkilled, swamped with weeds...I dug it up cleaned out the couch resurrected it into seven pots... kept four...planted next to aforementioned pants example...they are HUGE productive early great...already on third picking this year...no protection at all....only wish I could tell you variety.

Your best bet is to find someone with a good patch and explain (truthfully) that they are best split every five years or so..and beg a cutting or two.

PS...I think Spring is a better time for division than Autumn...start into growth again and establish quicker ...less time to rot.

[Snadger]

Could it be that the normal mongrel rhubarb grown in most allotments is full of hybrid vigour and these 'soft' purebred rhubarbs just can't cut the mustard?

[Paulottie]

Indeed Snadger...mine shall be henceforth known as 'Heinz 57'...(lower vet bills too.)

[T8Ter]

HeyWayne, I have a couple of second year Victoria crowns I can send you if you want. Just pm me address and I'll send over.