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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Digeroo on February 21, 2018, 10:10:29

Title: First rhubarb
Post by: Digeroo on February 21, 2018, 10:10:29

The first few tiny stalks seem to taste the best.  Zapped in microwave with apple juice and serve with a nice plain yoghurt.  Lovely.

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: Plot 18 on February 21, 2018, 10:47:51

That sounds really lovely :) but I have to refrain from picking mine, as I moved the roots to my new plot this winter *sulk*

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: Borderers1951 on February 22, 2018, 06:54:29

Mine are just pushing through the mulch.  That on my neighbour's plot isn't even doing that yet.

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: IanDH on March 09, 2018, 14:02:15

Just a little behind.  1st few stalks, Timperley Early  on 24th Feb.  Went really well with home made ice cream. 

Have forcers on Timperley Early and Champagne.  One of my favourites - have just put in 3 more varieties.

The cold spell seems to have slowed things down.

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: Obelixx on March 09, 2018, 14:55:17

Envious.    No forced or fresh rhubarb round here yet.

I bought 3 crowns for this new garden and veg plot last spring but kept them in pots cos of the drought.  Happily, they have survived winter and we have had a year's worth of rain in 2 months so yesterday I planted them out with lots of lovely rotted horse manure.  They each have a few tiny, crinkled leaves but look well so maybe next year I'll get some to eat.

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: galina on March 09, 2018, 16:39:22

Mine are also biding their time.  I can see pink buds, but no stalks yet.  :wave:

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: Paulh on March 09, 2018, 20:05:09

My Timperley Early and Champagne crowns send up lots of flowering stalks which seems to affect the quantity and quality of leaves they produce. I cut the flower stems off - is this the right thing to do? Should I get rid of them? My other plants (unknown, vigorous variety) which are in the same bed do not send up flower stems at all.

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: galina on March 09, 2018, 20:09:53

Cutting them off is the usual advice.  And I usually do.  But these flowers are so majestic and pretty that just occasionally I leave one.  Leaving them is said to weaken the plant and stop further leaves.  :wave:

Title: Re: First rhubarb
Post by: Obelixx on March 09, 2018, 20:14:56

Flowering stems can be a sign that your rhubarb needs lifting and splitting or maybe just a huge dollop of manure next autumn.

When mine did it a few years ago - previous garden - I cut off the flowering stems early and gave them to some florist friends.   Got agreat crop of edble stems and then divided the roots in autumn.