Topic: Rhubarb

[cdchater]

Hello

I've inherited a rather large rhubarb on my new lottie and it's been neglected - very overgrown and looks pretty dead! (going all brown). Is this what it does in autumn? And what's the best thing to do with it? Should I cut it right down, hoping it will grow back next year?

Any help/advise gratefully received....my hubby will be most disappointed if he doesn't get any rhubarb crumble next year!

Regards,
claire

[allotment_chick]

Hi Claire
Mine looks like this too - I'm hoping it is just the heat!

I'd advise you to tidy it up and dump as much manure on it as it is possible, keeping the 'crown' clear as this is where next years buds will be.

We are particularly fond of rhubarb 'mess' - made the same as eton mess, but with gently cooked rhubarb instead of strawberries - yum....

[gavin]

Hi cdchater - good advice there;  lots of well-rotted manure, or compost - and it'll come up a treat next spring.

If it is a really big rhubarb patch, you could try splitting some of it - between November to February, use a spade to "chop off" chunks of the clump, and plant any with a crown and roots in a hole with lots of manure/compost.  You won't be able to pick new rhubarb off the new plants until the next year, but it gives you the start of a new fresh bed, and allows you eventually to get rid of the old (which might be quite weed-ridden?)

All best,  Gavin

[Hugh_Jones]

Don`t cut it down - let it die back naturally on its own, but give it a good does of bone meal, well worked into the surface.  Save the manure until November before applying it.

If you want the finest rhubarb, get an old plastic dustbin, fill it loosely with straw, and place it upside down over one of the crowns in late January. By late March/early April you will have 2ft long stems of the palest pink (and acid free) rhubarb.

The effective useful life of a rhubarb plant is 10 years, so it is worth splitting off offsets each year to maintain a bed in best condition, but new plantings should not be picked at all until the second year, and then only lightly.

[allotment_chick]

I have to say that I put manure on mine now - but it seems to be a very early variety.

[LynneA]

the old clump on our second plot looked like that too.  Went to lift & divide it and found the root had rotted away.  But the crowns we planyed ourselves were productive enough this year so it's no great tragedy for us.

[legless]

do you cut the leaves back or leave them to die back?

[Colin_Bellamy-Wood]

Hiya Claire, just cut it down to the crown, putting the leaves and stalks in/on your compost bin.    Then pile Horse Manure on top of the crown - BUT - try to get some that is very old, and well rotted, not fresh.   Next year, try it with custard instead!!!   Colin.  

[Hugh_Jones]

hi Colin.  Welcome to the civilised non-granny-regulated Boards.

However. I take issue with your suggestion.  When the plant starts to `die back` for the winter there is a downward flow back to the roots.  Cutting off the old foliage and stems before they die back completely simply deprives the roots of the benefit of this.  Better to leave them on.

[legless]

i think i'll leave it to die back then, thanks everyone. :)

[Colin_Bellamy-Wood]

Thank you Hugh for your welcome, and also for rectificating my mistake with when to "cut back" the rhubarb.   It's what these Boards are for, ain't it.   Regards Colin. ;D

[cdchater]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'll leave the rhubarb to die back and then get my hands on some well rotted manure!

[legless]

right so its november, i let the leaves die back then removed them to the compost heap when they started to go mushy. so i now put well rotted manure on it, can i cover the crowns or not?

[Hugh_Jones]

No, better to leave the crowns clear. Now is the time to start collecting your surplus straw and packing it loosely in an old plastic dustbin ready to put it (upside down) over the crown in early January for the most tender and juicy, tasty, pale pink sticks (virtually free of acid for the more tender digestions) to pick in late March/early April - the later, thicker, greenish sticks simply can`t compare for quality.

[legless]

right thanks hugh, i wasn't sure. and i have a spare bale and a spare dustbin. how exciting! (well i think it is, its all new to me)

[Jerakeen]

I've inherited rhubarb on my plot. Rhubarb is probably my favourite fruit of all so I'm hoping to get loads for next year :D
Bec

[Mrs Ava]

now is rhubarb a fruit or a veg?   ???

[Jerakeen]

Technically it isn't a fruit really as a fruit, if I remember correctly, is a fleshy body that carries seeds. Either way it's of vegetable origin  ;D
Bec