Rhubarb gowing vertically, over 4ft high, less than 1ft diameter

[Lhen]

Hello all
I planted some rhubard seeds outside in March when we had a warm spell. It's now August and the rhubarb looks weak, almost weed like. The single main stalk is over 4ft high, but the plant covers less than 1ft in diameter. The single main stalk is rhubarb red and the plant has many weak, small rhubard type leaves over it's entire length. The plant is in at least 1ft depth of soil/cow manure, in full sun all day. Ground is well drained and watered to keep moist, but not wet.
Can I recover these plants or throw them away and start again?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[PAULW]

When you buy a rhubarb plant it will take about two to three years before you can crop any decent amount so you still have plenty of time to let the plant get bigger.

[Lhen]

Thanks for your reply. Is it correct that the plant just grows vertically and goes to seed straight away?

[binley100]

What do you mean by just growing vertically ?
I cut off any flower stalks .......

[veggiechicken]

It needs to flower before it can go to seed, Lhen. Its unlikely to do this for a couple of years.
There's more information here http://rhubarbinfo.com/taxonomy/term/100
By the way, welcome to the Forum

[Farmer_Gyles]

rhubarb growing vertically is fine .... the spread is fine .... it's a young plant so it sounds ok .... in fact, 4ft is a pretty good height, much better than i get from mine .....
in time, the crown will grow and more stalks will come up .... it'll spread wider .... you'll have loads of rhubarb ....
eventually you'll want or need to split the crown and the smaller crowns will be much like what you've got now ....

[taff]

It does sound like it's trying to seed, rather than grow.
Have you got a picture?

[redser]

I wonder was all the manure too much for a young plant and it's getting a bit stressed with small crown but lots of leaf growth? I sowed last summer into small pots and held these for best part of a year before planting them out a couple of months ago. They are really taking off. Sure your leaves will just die back and next year it should be more balanaced I would imagine. Just dont take any stalks this year, let them die down naturally. Then cover with some manure during the winter.