Rhubarb help

[simon99h]

I have inherited an allotment which had a row of old rhubarb on it. Last year it produced plenty of stalks but it was obvious that it had been in that position for a long while and it was over crowded.
I resolved to dig it up this year and split it. After a great deal of effort I have managed to get the roots out of the ground. I didn't expect them to be as big as they are. some of the roots are as thick as my wrist!
The advice I have had is to leave them out to expose them to frost before re-positioning.

The Question is how should I split them, with one root I have cut it in half with my spade. and then how should I replant?

[Penellype]

I've not done this myself, but I have a book with detailed instructions on dividing rhubarb:

Lift during the dormant period (Nov-Mar) and chop vertically with a spade to produce "sets". Each set must have a rounded pink bud and a fair share of the root system - as a guide a planting piece should be about the size of a man's hand. (The diagram shows the main root cut diagonally across, below some smaller side roots). Cut through the very largest buds as these invariably produce a flower stalk in the first year. Sets with one or more smaller buds will develop into strong plants in the first year.

There is no mention of exposing the roots to frost. October and March are mentioned as the best times to plant.

[Sheneval]

I did this last year and all the bits successfully rooted and I should have an abundance of stalks this coming year - I was not too particular about sizes - I had 5 bits and 2 were large and 3 smaller - doesn't seem to make any difference as they all grew well this year but I refrained from picking and they are now quite large plants.

I used two forks back to back to split them and didn't bother exposing them to frost

[Martin H]

I dug mine up in summer this year because I wanted it in a different place. I planted three decent pieces somewhere else and chopped up the rest for compost. The three pieces sulked for a while but then regrew strongly. So I can vouch for the fact it's tough stuff.

[vegboi]

How many plants should be put together and can you plant other things in them? Mark


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[Sheneval]

They can grow quite large so leave plenty of room at least 1metre spread - grows best in sunny spot in rich moist soil that does not waterlog - dig in plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost.

I mulched mine with manure and will apply fish blood and bone in March, (you can use Growmore followed by a Nitrogen fertiliser in June).

I keep mine well apart and grow a variety of things between them - sweet peas, blackcurrant bushes etc.

[vegboi]

Can someone tell me why my rhubarb has started sending flower spikes up?


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[RaptorUK]

Can someone tell me why my rhubarb has started sending flower spikes up?

Could be stress of one form or another. Was it divided recently ? mine has been and one produced a flower. My allotment neighbour has flowers on a few of his plants and they haven't been divided so i guess they are just ready to flower.

[Matt94]

Hi vegboi, it's common for rhubarb to send out flowers spikes, don't worry, just keep nipping them off.

[vegboi]

Could be stress of one form or another. Was it divided recently ? mine has been and one produced a flower. My allotment neighbour has flowers on a few of his plants and they haven't been divided so i guess they are just ready to flower.

The one which was flowering hadn't been separated I have snapped it off will it be ok to eat


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[Matt94]

Hi vegboi, as far as I'm aware rhubarb leaves and flower stalks are poisonous, therefore I would definitely recommend that you don't eat them.