Moving Rhubarb

[harveymt]

I got some rhubarb crowns in January. The place I have them planted doesn't seem to suit them, they aren't growing all that well. There isn't the greatest amount of light due to a lot of fir trees around the current veg patch. I have recently cleared another piece of land for a new veg patch. Can you move the rhubarb crowns now to a new location? I hadn't planned on taking any stems this year anyway till they got establised so I'm not too worried about getting any this year just as long as moving them now won't kill them.
Any advice?

[rustylady]

Whereabouts are you Harvey? The usual advice is to move rhubarb when it's dormant (winter) but if they're not very big you could get away with moving them now. Make sure you take as much root as possible and also make sure they don't go short of water (ha ha) till they're established in their new home.

[mrbadexample]

I think I'd be tempted to move them. After all, if you wait until they're dormant, you may have nothing left to move if they're that unhappy.

[dominic10]

I've just taken some crowns from the allotment I share with others to my new allotment. I did this at the wrong time because the taste is great - I don't add sugar as my husband is a diabetic and the taste is not sharp at all. I did this two weeks ago and both plants are growing new leaves but they are not in a shaded place. Even if it is going to take a while for them to establish I am not too bothered as my new neighbour at our new allotment has offered us some. Rhubarb I planted at home does not do well in a shaded area so I would suggest you move them. They have quite deep roots so try to dig out the whole root ball and place it into a pre-dug hole and hopefully they will not be too unhappy!

[Bren In Pots]

I think I'd be tempted to move them. After all, if you wait until they're dormant, you may have nothing left to move if they're that unhappy.

I'm with MrB if its in the wrong place it wont grow so you've not lost anything if it doesn't take. I moved mine at the end of March because it was in a area I needed.

[Peas'n'Kews]

And lots of manure, if you can!

i have just dug up one of my Rhubarbs, which is now in a pot (for various boring reasons) and its is doing very nicely, thank you!